Kindly download below:  Final report of the "Supporting implementation of independent monitoring of forestry law enforcement in Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo and Ivory Coast) " Project

From February 2014 to May 2015, the Field Legality Advisory Group (FLAG) spearheaded an initiative entitled "Supporting implementation of independent monitoring of forest law enforcement (OIFLEG) in Africa (DRC, CI, and RoC) ".

The project aimed chiefly to ensure continued independent observation in West and Central Africa in a particular context. In fact, the role of civil society organizations at national level in implementing the OIFLEG in the Congo Basin sub-region has grown so much over the years that they have become a crucial stakeholder in forest law enforcement and governance in Central Africa. The project was made possible thanks to European Commission and DFID funding to the tune of USD 400,000 provided through the FAO EU FLEGT program.

At the end of the fourth year of implementation of independent monitoring of forest law enforcement and governance in the DRC, which coincides with the end of the FAO-funded project, it has been noted that the DRC is making progress in law enforcement and governance monitorin. The Congolese State's efforts have yielded some results, even though genuine improvements are yet to be seen.

The departments responsible for overseeing the MEDD are a little more present on the ground, written reports of offenses are being produced, and companies that commit infringements are paying fines. Despite these significant results, law enforcement levels remain low (compared with other countries in the sub-region). A situation which may be explained by the sheer magnitude of of legal, technical and policy challenges facing MEDD notably:

•  Lack of monitoring facilities;

• Inadequately deterrent sanctions;

• The administration's non-compliance with regulations  affects its performance and ability to enforce the laws it has passed;

• Poor skills of  the administration's employees (poorly done forest checks, offenses not reported or punished, taxes and duties not paid) ;

• Lack of coordination between central and provincial services. Such a large number of issues requires special attention and true political will of the authorities of MEDD if they truly want to resolve the issue of illegal logging in DRC. ..

Kindly download below:  Final report of the "Supporting implementation of independent monitoring of forestry law enforcement in Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo and Ivory Coast) " Project