Lake Oku, in the Kilum-Ijim Forest, Cameroon. Photo via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Oku_Cameroon.jpg
 
Nairobi, 7 November 2017—The African Forest Forum (AFF) in partnership with the African Natural Resources Centre (ANRC) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Cameroon is organizing a training workshop on ‘forest law enforcement, governance and fair trade for West and Central Africa sub-regions’ between 13 and 16 November, 2017 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
 
Good governance is essential to realizing progressive development outcomes in the forest sector, including increased contribution to environmental services, national economies and local livelihoods. However, despite the political will and actions of national, regional and international institutions, illegal logging and illegal trade in forest products point to inadequate forest sector governance that needs to be addressed.
 
It is for this reason that the training workshop aims to:
a) Sensitise and enhance awareness of policy and decision makers of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing forest governance frameworks at all levels in the context of challenges of globalization, and of progress in the implementation of forest law enforcement governance (FLEG) action plan in Africa.
b) Appreciate the potential role of the EU-FLEGT and AFLEG schemes in improving forest governance in African partner countries and how this could be replicated elsewhere on the continent.
c) Consolidate and reinforce forest governance competence and proficiency in management of Africa’s forests for better ecosystem services delivery, transparent forest products trade, improved livelihoods of forest dependent communities, and national economies.
d) Provide an opportunity for policy and decision makers from different countries to meet and exchange information on appropriate mechanisms for developing, instituting and employing holistic approaches to address illegalities in the forest sector, support transparent trade in forest products and sustainable forest management.
 
The workshop is tailored to the needs of senior policy and decision makers of national and regional governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector involved in the conservation and management of forest resources from West and Central African countries. It is expected that at the end of the training, participants would have;

Better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of existing forest governance frameworks at national, sub-regional and regional levels.
A better understanding of the full package of the EU FLEGT and AFLEGT schemes and their implications for African forest governance.
Identified mechanisms for strengthening forest law enforcement, including containing illegalities in the sector, and improving good forest governance.
Capacity to develop and institute governance mechanisms to reduce illegalities in the forest sector, and an understanding of appropriate measures that take ecological and socio-economic aspects into account in relevant forestry activities.

The training workshop is an integral component of the AFF’s project entitled “Strengthening Sustainable Forest Management in Africa” supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
 
For further information on the training workshop contact
The Executive Secretary,                                                                             The Director
African Forest Forum,                                                                                   African Natural Resources Center
United Nations Avenue, Gigiri                                                                      African Development Bank Group
P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.                                                       Immeuble CCIA-Avenue Jean-Paul II
Phone: +254 20 722 4203.                                                                           01 BP 1387 Abidjan 01 Côte d’Ivoire
Fax: +254 20 722 4001/4181                                                                        Phone : +225 20264387
Email: exec.sec@afforum.org                                                                       Email : ECNR_info@afdb.org
                                                                                                                      Website: www.afdb.org/ecnr