Timber trade and forest certification.Why do they matter in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Timber trade and forest certification

Why they matter in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Somewhere in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania... 2015

Where to find (a lot of) timber?

Yes, it’s already here

But why should we care?

Introducing “the criminals”

...and more

...and more

So, why we should care

Because we have no detailed data

Because criminalisation will not reduce the demand and is very likely to have negative impacts on the most vulnerable elements of the production chain (i.e. smallholders and chainsaw loggers)

Because (political and physical) geographies make things even more difficult in East Africa (regional vs. national/sub-national institutions and policy options)

Because simplistic dichotomies rarely lead to sound decisions (by policy makers or others)

• Illegal ≠ Illegitimate ≠ Non Sustainable

• Legal ≠ Legitimate ≠ Sustainable

Certification as a way forward?

www.cifor.org/fsc

Thank youwww.cifor.org/pro-formal