During the workshop, participants validated four modules on themes proposed by the ITTO: (1) Sustainable Forest Development (AFD): Overview based on ITTO Criteria and Indicators; (2) Facilitation of appropriate strategies for designing development plans; (3) Implementation and Monitoring of Forest Development Plans; (4) Multi-resource Forest Inventories.

Douala (Cameroon), a Technical Workshop was held from 14 to 17 December 2012 for the Validation of Training Modules 1, 2, 5 and 6 on Sustainable Management of Forest Concessions, chaired by Denis Durand, CERFO General Manager. The workshop was organized by the Network of Forestry and Environmental Training Institutions (RIFFEAC), with ITTO financial support through the PD 456/07 Rév.4 (F) Project and in collaboration with the technical partners of Université LAVAL and Sainte-Foy Forestry Teaching and Research Center (CERFO).

The following professionals from Université LAVAL attended the workshop: Nancy Gélinas, Associate Professor; André Desrochers, Full Professor, Marie-France Gévry, project Officer; CERFO experts: Philippe Bournival, Project Officer; Guy Lessard, Sustainable Forest Development Expert; the project implementation unit; and members of thematic working groups (TWG) on modules 1, 2, 5 and 6 from seven RIFFEAC member institutions, beneficiaries of the PD 456/07 Rév.4 (F) Project: CRESA-Forêt-Bois-Yaoundé (Cameroon); FASA-Dschang (Cameroon); ENEF Mbalmayo (Cameroon); ERAIFT – Kinshasa (DRC); ENEF-Cap Estérias (Gabon); IDR-Brazzaville (Congo); ISDR Mbaïki (CAR).

The program of each module designed by the CERFO and Université LAVAL includes their orientations and objectives, admission conditions, skills to be developed, course content and outline (course titles).

The workshop was aimed, among other things, at: (1) analysing the skills to be developed, content, prerequisites and the teaching formula for each module; (2) to identify upcoming sub-regional challenges facing forestry professionals; (3) identifying contents and skills to be developed, at tertiary and technical level, through thematic working groups (TWG); (4) formulating recommendations on prerequisites, teaching formula and implementation of the modules in each institution; (5) discussing key elements to be considered in updating content.

The following themes were covered by the workshop: (1) Sustainable forest development: Overview; (2) Facilitation of strategic choices relating to the development plan; (3) Implementation and Monitoring of Forest Development Plans; (4) Multi-resource Forest Inventories.

The participants learnt about ITTO clarifications on the new formulations of training module titles. To this end, the above-mentioned themes were re-phrased as follows: on the workshop: (1) Sustainable Forest Development (AFD): overview based on ITTO Criteria and Indicators; (2) Facilitation of appropriate strategies for the design of development plans; (3) Implementation and Monitoring of Forest Development Plans; (4) Multi-resource Forest Inventories. They validated these four modules on the proposed themes and particularly reviewed their orientations and objectives by identifying skills to be acquired, courses and chapters to be taught, including their contents, prerequisites and the training outline.

TWG members developed work schedules for their groups and formulated recommendations on updating documentation, refresher training of lecturers, the technician/engineer ratio, the introduction of a course on forest patrols, lecturers and students’ mobility within the sub-region and the publication of a forestry journal.

The summary report of the workshop will soon be available on the RIFFEAC website.

Reminder:

RIFFEAC TECHNICAL WORKSHOP - From 10 to 20 December 2012 in Douala-Cameroon, the Network of Forestry and Environmental Training Institutions (RIFFEAC) conducted three technical workshops, in collaboration with the technical partners of Université LAVAL and Sainte-Foy Forestry Teaching and Research Center (CERFO).

Available for download: Six priority training modules for RIFFEAC members