The COMIFAC Executive Secretariat held a workshop from April 23 to 24, 2014 in Brazzaville, Congo, with financial support from GEF, to validate the methodology for establishing regional allometric equations. The come-together attracted fifty participants from COMIFAC countries, private institutions, as well as international experts.

In order to foster input from participants, the workshop format was based on plenary presentations and group work, all under the leadership of a presidium comprising a chairman, a vice chair and secretaries.

Presentations featured on the agenda afforded the participants a better understanding and grasp of:

♦ REDD-related  stakes of the workshop;
♦ The Consortium’s efforts and milestones achieved in Phase 1 as part of elaboration of the regional methodology;
♦ the inventory of allometric equations in the Congo Basin;
♦ forest stratification developed under the regional methodology for establishing allometric equations;
♦ characteristics of the desired model and sampling strategy defined under the regional methodology for establishing allometric equations;
♦ encoding, analysis and scientific scaling-up of data;
♦ identifying measurement sites based on forest stratification, importance of strata and logistical constraints;

♦ implementation of the methodology (types of actors involved and their respective roles).

The group discussions conducted after the presentations enabled participants to delineate the scope of the methodology and make suggestions regarding its implementation. Their comments touched on:

♦ phase 2 implementation;

♦ selection of data-collecting scientific institutions;

♦ scale-up and securing of the data base;

♦ logistic constraints, choice of sites and collaboration with private enterprises;

♦  ties between the Administration, private enterprises and institutions.

These key issues discussed at the workshop fueled fruitful and enriching talks which resulted in recommendations on the best approach for popularizing the methodology for establishing allometric equations by strengthening capacities of actors, conducting field tests to assess its efficiency and ensuring ownership by COMIFAC countries.  

The recommendations brought the workshop to a close with all the participants expressing their satisfaction.

For more information on lessons learnt and proceedings of the workshop (presentations, final communiqué, TOR and list of participants) please consult the documents below:

 Photo credits: Nature+ and PRE-REDD