Yaounde (Cameroon), 8 February, 2011 - The African Model Forests Network (AMFN) officially confirmed its adherence to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (BCFP). To this effect, the AMFN agrees to the principles of sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Central Africa and to work closely following the cooperation framework of the BCFP partners. Therefore, it commits itself to support the implementation of the COMIFAC convergence plan and to respect the principles of sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of forest ecosystems in Central Africa.

Model Forests are voluntary partnerships between local development actors for a long-term implementation of sustainable management of multifunctional forest lands. They are large areas of experimentation, innovation and dissemination of good practices in sustainable ecosystem management and forest governance. As platforms for forest governance, they incorporate and suggest, then create synergies between different uses of the forest area to improve local environmental and economic conditions. At this level, Model Forests are based on an institutional infrastructure of participatory governance, facilitation of territorial dialogue and collaboration between stakeholders with sometimes competing interests on a given forest area.

In the Congo Basin, there are two Model Forest sites in Cameroon, one in Dja and Mpomo, Eastern Region and another one in Campo Ma'an, South Region. A process of extension and creation of new sites is going on in several countries with support from Canada, especially in ROC, Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda. Preliminary contacts are effective with the Central African Republic, Gabon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea for the expansion of the said process. At African level, contacts are underway in West Africa (Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire), while Model Forests are currently being developed in North Africa under the aegis of the Mediterranean Model Forests Network.

Since July 2009, AMFN Secretariat has the mandate of facilitating the establishment, the development and the operation of a pan-African Model Forests network, representative of the richness and the diversity of the continent, well governed and endowed with adequate human, materials and scientific resources necessary for sustainable development of forest lands and the economic and social valorisation of their biologic, human and cultural diversity.

Indeed, African Model Forests are built on some pillars or key principles: participatory governance, sustainable economic development, conservation and proper management, knowledge generation and sharing, science and best practices. In collaboration with a range of partners (the University of Yaounde I, Laval University, the University of British Columbia, the Model Forest of Lac St Jean, FP Innovations and AFRICAD in Canada, PRYME PARTNERS and the Technical Centre for Communal Forest in Cameroon, the Ibero American Model Forests Network, the populations, forestry and agro-forestry industries, rural councils and others), AMFN explores the possibilities of stimulating and creating innovative activities bearers of viable ecological, economic and socio-cultural local values:

♦ Transformation and development of PFNL by domestication, extension, processing and marketing of PFNLs;

♦ The development of agriculture and sustainable agriculture through capacity building and technical mastery of livestock grazing, agriculture, fish farming, sylviculture, apiculture, pig breeding;

♦ The promotion of rural entrepreneurship through the development of secondary products from wood processing with the establishment of a prototyping centre and the creation of platforms for drying wood;

♦ The development of heritage, local products and ecotourism for the inventory of ecotourism potential and training for small tourism businesses;

♦ Innovation in rural energy and water supply to address accessibility and viability issues related to sustainability and enhancement of organic residues and production of local water and energy. 

In this same vein, climate change sets a new human, ecologically and economically challenge that needs to be addressed. The AMFN believes that its strategy of expansion and social management of biodiversity are adequate and will support the implementation of COMIFAC convergence plan. In Model Forests, the hope is to achieve a very significant step forward in terms of REDD + processes for which an implementation strategy is under review at SRAFM. They are currently developing strategies that might be necessary for the success of COMIFAC mandate.

"Welcome" to our new member, the African Model Forests Network (AMFN)

For more information, please visit African Model Forests Network (AMFN) website