The first steering committee meeting of the harmonized regional approach to sustainable management of Congo basin producing forests project was held from 29 to 30 January 2013 in Douala (Cameroon). The purpose of the meeting was to take stock of project activities conducted in 2012 and to adopt the 2013 annual work plan.

The meeting was attended by representatives of National COMIFAC Coordination from the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and the Republic of Gabon. Equally in attendance were representatives of regional and international organizations, program/projects operating on the sub region, national and international NGOs, the private sector and a number from a training school. They included notably representatives of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), Program for the Promotion of Certified Logging (PPECF), the Organization for Development and the Environment (ODE),  Amigos de la Naturaleza y del Desarrollo de Guinea Ecuatorial (ANDEGE), World Resources Institute (WRI), Rainforest Alliance (RA), Grouping of the Wood sector in Cameroon [Groupement de la Filière Bois au Cameroun (GFBC)] and the Mixed Technical College of 12 August 1965 (CETM).

The meeting had three main articulations:

The opening ceremony

Three speeches were delivered namely those of: Ms. Terry BRNCIC, the Project Manager, Mr. Adamou BOUHARI, the Programme Officer at UNEP and Mr. Valéry TCHUANTÉ, the COMIFAC Executive Secretary’s representative.

The speakers recalled the context which had prompted the implementation of such a project with a sub regional scope, giving an overview of its various components. In their statements, the speakers acknowledged the importance and necessity of having such a gathering one year into the implementation of the project, and each one speaking on behalf of their organization, clarified his role in the project.

Presentation of 2012 activities and 2013 AWP

The project which is being implemented in three COMIFAC countries (CAR, Congo and Equatorial Guinea) and in the sub region, achieved satisfactory results in its first year of implementation. This was noted with satisfaction by the steering committee members in attendance.

However certain issues with organisation, logistics, administration and staff access to some countries were highlighted in the presentations, which led to the formulation of a number of recommendations.   

Formulation of recommendations

In respect of the reported challenges, participants formulated recommendations with a view to improving project implementation. The recommendations touched on technical, organizational, logistic and administrative aspects.

This battery of recommendations, through which participants demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that the project contributes substantially in the harmonization of COMIFAC countries’ forest policies brought the meeting to a close.  

 For more information, kindly download, the final Communiqué   of the steering committee on the harmonized regional approach to sustainable management of Congo basin producing forests