Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) - 25 to 26 November 2010, in the Conference hall of the Société Nationale de Pétrole of Congo, an International Seminar took place under the theme "Environmental Assessment and Forestry Governance in Central Africa". Organised by the Secretariat for Environmental Assessment in Central Africa (SEACA) and the Congo Association for Environmental Impact Assessment (ACEIE), under the patronage of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) and the Ministry for Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and the Environment, this seminar was intended to review the role of environmental assessment as a promotion tool for good forestry governance in Central Africa in order to suggest alternatives for the full expression of its potential in this domain. (Photo de Gauche - Seminar's participants - SEEAC)

The opening ceremony of the seminar was attended by about 80 participants. It was chaired by Mr Sébastien M’POUSSA, Cabinet Director representing the Minister for Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and the Environment, assisted by COMIFAC and CEEAC representatives and ACEIE President, serving SEACA President. Deliberations at the seminar took place in a four-phase presentation of communications (1) Stakes of Environmental Assessment in the Forestry Sector in Central Africa, (2) Practice of EA in the Forestry Sector in Central Africa, (3) Environmental Assessment and Impacts of the Development of non-Forests Sectors on Forests (mining, infrastructures, industries, urbanisation, agriculture, livestock farming), (4) Environmental Assessment and Transparency, Poverty Eradication and Taking into Consideration the Interests of Local and Indigenous Communities in the Management of Forest Resources.

Series of communications followed by panel discussions; participants issued 11 recommendations including the promotion of Environmental Assessment as a tool for promoting good governance in general and in the forestry sector in particular, Involving local and indigenous populations in the environmental assessment process ...

To learn more, please check the final communiqué of the International Seminar and/or contact Dr Dieudonne Bitondo (bitondodieudonne@yahoo.fr)