By George Okore

as environmental preservation takes a more prominent role in global planning， China is making massive investments in African forestry， helping the continent to improve governance of its timber trade and sustainable forest management.

The mutual partnership led to the formation of the China-Africa Forest Governance Learning Platform（FGLP）. Its aim is to strengthen forestry governance through information sharing and developing stronger， deeper links among diverse stakeholders. FGLP is inspired by already existing international regimes on forests like the Convention on Biological Diversity， Convention to Combat Desertification， United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol.

FGLP currently has links with Cameroon， Uganda， DRC， Gabon， Republic of Congo， Tanzania， Malawi， Mozambique， South Africa， Zambia and Zimbabwe， all of which are gaining from Chinas experience in forestry management.

Hosted by the Chinese Academy of Forestry （CAF）， FGLP borrows from Chinas forestry policy reforms introduced in 1978 to advance sustainable forest management， ensuring African forests are socio-economically beneficial. The international alliance promotes policymaking that serves forest-dependent communities and sustainability. It also enables researchers and forest specialists from Africa and China to share information on forestry issues.

FGLPs inaugural March 2013 meeting in Beijing resolved that any Chinese investments in Africas forests are environmentally sustainable and beneficial to local communities. The meeting identified priorities such as joint research on effective forest management. The second FGLP meeting in Africa in 2014 will review progress made in the past year.

The July 2013 FGLP status report showed China is now the top importer of timber from several African nations. The report said FGLP has improved forest governance by sharing Chinese guidelines with African stakeholders including civil society， private sector and governments.

Henri Djombo， Republic of Congo Minister of Sustainable Development， Forest Economy and Environment， said the project has provided financial， technical and scientific support to African forestry. Djombo said FGLP is tackling illegal logging in the vast but unprotected African forest resources. “Illegal logging seriously threatens good forest governance in Africa. Weak， under- resourced or corrupt governments can limit a countrys capacity to monitor and regulate traceability，” he said.

Matthew V. Cassetta， Facilitator of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership （CBFP）， said this collaboration will address critical threats to biodiversity and forests like illegal logging， unsustainable resource extraction， and wildlife trafficking.

“By promoting dialogue on forests conservation and sustainable management in Africa， FGLP will ensure stronger compliance with laws protecting forests and local benefits. Through joint research and action， both sides will develop and strengthen responsible purchasing policies and legal sourcing of sustainably harvested timber，” he said.

It also proactively engages with the private sector to improve forest governance， such as securing local rights， developing forest product legitimacy and combating climate change. FGLP is concerned with illicit trade in forestry products and other natural resources normally exploited by criminals and China is supporting legislations requiring companies sourcing forestry products from Africa to prove their conflict free origin to discourage illegal exploitation of natural resources.

James Mayers from the International Institute for Environment and Development （IIED） and FGLP facilitator said African commodities boom is in full swing， stimulated greatly by Chinese market demand and growing Chinese investment in Africas forests and timber. Mayers said there has been rapid growth of Chinese investment in Africa forestry， from less than $500 million 2003 to $22.9 billion in 2012. This is contrary to the criticism of Chinas role in Africa only being focused on extractive industries and plundering of the continents vast resources.