P3FAC : New research project for sustainable forest management
© Jean-Louis Doucet
During the Forum of the International Tropical Timber Technical Association held in Dubai from 4 to 6 March 2017, the representative of the FFEM (French Global Environment Facility), Aurélie AHMIM-RICHARD announced the signature of the P3FAC project, of which Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech - University of Liège is a partner.
The project will consolidate over 5 years the scientific data on the dynamics of forests in Central Africa and mobilize public and private actors in the sector around the results of this research in favour of more sustainable forest policies. The total cost of the project amounts to 8.4 million euros, of which 2 million euros are allocated by the FGEF.
Scientific results are essential for adapting forest policies
To ensure the sustainability of forest management in Central Africa, it is essential to understand the dynamics of different forest types through long-term monitoring. The objective of the P3FAC project is to provide consolidated results of scientific analyses to improve the sustainability of forest management in Central Africa, while preserving biodiversity and providing sustainable natural resources to human populations and forest operators.
Consolidate, enhance and disseminate scientific results for five years in five Central African countries
This research project targets Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. It is based on a unique network of devices located in the heart of dense tropical rainforests. For five years, it will assess the impact of logging on forest areas and their plant and animal populations by extending the initial research already carried out under the DynafFor project, which the FGEF has also funded and which ends in 2017.
In addition to characterizing the dynamics in different forest types in Central Africa, the project will study the ecological and biological mechanisms affecting the dynamics of timber and non-timber forest product (NTFP) species populations. Species useful to local populations will therefore be at the heart of the P3FAC project.
P3FAC will promote pragmatic tools for political decision-making
The objective of this project is to recommend silviculture recommendations and management actions adapted to different forest types. Project partners will disseminate the results to policy makers and national administrations, providing pragmatic decision support tools. The P3FAC project will capitalize on scientific data at the sub-regional and international levels, ensuring that these results are shared among the three tropical basins: Africa, America and Asia.
A multi-stakeholder public-private-civil society alliance for science and development
ATIBT will manage the project in partnership with the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC). It will delegate operational activities to the association Nature+ to coordinate the activities of scientific partners, in particular Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech of the University of Liège and CIRAD.
A consortium Nature+/CIRAD/Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech will thus be constituted by associating the forest partner companies. The consortium will draw on the expertise of local universities and research centres.
