Project/activity information

The objective of this project is to promote and achieve sustainable forest management among the logging in companies in Gabon and the Central African Region by implementing Reduced Impact Logging practices incorporating fauna conservation concerns. Two specific objectives have been identified for this Project: (a) raising the awareness to and promotion of RIL in the regional through, inter alia, demonstrating the opportunities and feasibilities of RIL under different conditions; and (b) the provision and improvement of the complete range of RIL courses in the Region and the creation of training capacities including through building those of existing vocational training institutes.

The expected outputs based on the two specific objectives of the project are:
- Establishment of a demonstration area (50 to 150 ha) to demonstrate the differences between CL (Conventional Logging) and RIL in the forest devoted for training which covered around 12,000 ha in 2005 (approved logging permit);
- A study of the level of dependence to governmental financial support for the viability of a self-sufficient training centre after completion of phases 1 & 2;
- Completion of the RIL feasibility study (costs & revenue) in SBL forest concession (RILSIM software);
- Information on RIL ≪pros and cons≫ provided to target groups: Logging companies, Civil servants, Civil society organizations (timber/forest industries), Vocational training sector, etc.;
- RIL Training Centre created near the training forest demonstration area;
- Personnel trained in Gabon in partnership with schools and tertiary education institutes at all levels: 5-10 civil servants; 10-20 trainers and assistants; 20-50 company supervisors and staff; 50-100 students schools/forest institutions;
- Introductory course for specialists and supervisors from neighbouring countries;
- Vocational training institute for RIL Training in a third country; and
- Project proposal for a continued project extension in the Region: Phase 2.