FLEGT In West Africa: towards effective governance and trade. Policy Brief Vol. 1 (1)

The challenges facing countries and producers of forest products vary with each situation, but there are cconstraints common to many. These include lack of: politiccal will, national dialogue, national standards, necessary skills, clear incentives, and fair competition, among others. In many West African States, illegal harvesting appears to be increasing and hampers the realization of full economic potential of the forestry sector. Export procedures sometimes provide loopholes for corruption, while certification is yet significantly appreciable in sustainable forest maanagement. Implementation of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) in these countries holds potential to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, these constraints.