Welcome to the African Forest Forum

Non-timber forest products in Tayap (Cameroon). Photo credit: AGRIPO via Wikimedia Commons

Increasing intra-African trade in forest products

Available records on intra-African trade in forest products indicate that the volumes traded have been very small. However, there are potentially big unrecorded, and possibly very significant, illegal sales of forest products across national borders.

Timber harvesting in a Ghanian forest. Photo © AFF/Godwin Kowero

Increased participation of the private sector and civil society in forest management

The increasing involvement of rural communities, as small holder farmers, in forestry issues, as well as the private sector and civil society could significantly influence how forests are managed in future.

A West Usambara Two-horned Chameleon (two horns), in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Photo credit: Ales kocourek

Promotion of a holistic management approach of African forests

Following the Rio+20 Summit in June 2012, the global community is increasingly turning its attention and focus towards a “green growth” economic pathway.

Dr. Ing. Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forestry, Sustainable Development and the Environment, in a past event in a forest plantation in Congo Brazzaville. Photo © AFF/Godwin Kowero

Improving forest seed and germplasm management in forest plantations

Forests and planted trees provide sustenance to many millions of people in Africa, particularly the vulnerable, women and children. Balancing utilisation of forest resources and growth of forests and trees forms the basis of sustainable forest management (SFM).

Farming for the future: commercial tree production by smallholders

Over the past two decades, one of the key trends, mainly in densely populated areas, is that of a shift in commercial plantation tree production to trees and other woody plants outside forests on farms.