For nearly twenty years, a considerable evolution has taken place in central Africa in terms of the responsible production of wood. Some producers have managed to produce both the good and the beautiful. Often disparaged, attacked, boycotted, sale, it is time to re-establish some facts and to appreciate what should be, far from the discourse of self-pity.
The establishment of the FSC label
Thus, on the 6.6 million cubic metres of logs (logs of wood) which are annually collected in the Congo basin, not less than 1.1 million cubic meters are according to the criteria of the label, the most demanding in the world : the Forest Stewardship Council, commonly referred to as FSC. As a reminder, it was founded in 1993, whereas the Earth summit in Rio (1992) did not yield the expected results in terms of preservation of forests. Then put around the table of NGOS, businesses and environmentalists to work on an innovative model whose objective is to maintain the forests for future generations. The result has been the creation of a model that ensures the protection of the rights of the workers and the population, in the strict respect of national laws and international level, or even the safeguarding of the fauna and the flora.
also Read Flora of tropical africa : attention, danger !
For Emmanuel Groutel, forestry and forest products, there is a real competence, and even excellence in africa which deserves to be valued and encouraged. © Picasa
A preponderant share in the universe of the FSC label
200 million hectares of forests are certified according to the label by 2020 in the world, with nearly 5.5 million hectares in the single basin of the Congo. This immense territory, shared between Cameroon, the Congo and Gabon, represents two times the size of Belgium. Researchers and scientists agree that the social and environmental aspects are dealt with in an exemplary way by the logging companies with the quality label FSC.
Gabon, the african Costa Rica, this central American country that is positioned in the ecological model, adopts him as a green policy by stating that all forest concessions in the country should adopt this model FSC by 2022. Huge challenge, no doubt, as the level to achieve is high. Moreover, it is interesting to note that the criticism of this decision hide behind the argument, so often heard in Africa, that the level to reach would be too high ! How to position itself in the top of the range and refute the constraints ?
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The certification process, a challenge statement...
indeed, it is complex and difficult to fulfill all the conditions related to this labelling. Thus, the system of traceability established (since the tree until the processed product), combined with audits conducted by third parties independent of the producers, allows us to meet international regulations that fight against environmental crime and trafficking of illegal timber. It is a response strictly to the rules put in place in Japan, Australia, the United States and Europe. It is also and above all a response to the legitimate environmental concerns of citizens here and elsewhere.
This increase in the range of some producers, the Congo basin forest is also accompanied by significant developments in the quality and sophistication of the products that they offer on the market.
There also, Gabon had set the tone by banning the export of logs from 2010 (the first wood of okoumé, the essence emblematic of the country, was exported in 1908). Plywood, parts of furniture, of cladding, clapboards, sleepers, parquet flooring, terraces and other products still are made in Africa of excellence.
The african producers certified have chipboard of complementary themes : aesthetics and ethics, resistant and durable, available, and sustainable. This know-how, and this tech is used in a first time the international markets the most advanced. The wait is also african. The brakes that it takes up in the material are primarily due to additional costs of logistics (a container between Libreville (Owendo) and Lagos will cost 3, 4 or 5 times more expensive than if this " box " had been exported to Shanghai). The diversification of wood species is also a crucial element.
Read also sub-saharan Africa : its forests also burn
... but there are numerous factors to take into account
other factors are economic (how to adapt the offer to the needs ?), transactional (secure payments), or psychological (pride of consuming a product africa).
While this is the time to localism, or even a protectionism who does not say his name, to the establishment of customs barriers or non-tariff anywhere in the world, it will be interesting to observe if the wooden and tropical african quality will be valued at their fair value in Europe or the USA.While wood is considered as the material of a post-carbon, it will be relevant to ensure that discrimination does not stop the wood from a sound management.While a certain condescension is often made to place african countries, we will see if the jobs created by the companies responsible will be sustained through a smooth flow of trade.Then, finally, that the consequences of the loss of biodiversity and global warming are vital, contractors sincerely involved in the field, every day, will see their determination and successful ?forestry and forest products, there is a real competence, and even excellence in africa which deserves to be valued and encouraged. It would be sad that these qualities may not be recognized locally, regionally and internationally. An indicator ? Will we see the wooden decks of the african FSC certified guide the athletes during the olympic Games held in the City of Light in 2024 ?
* Doctor of management science, specialist in strategic positioning and an expert on the subjects of forestry and the international flow of wood.
