The introduction of carbon finance as an incentive in forestry farming has a potential of increasing the amount of carbon sequestered. However, this has created a daunting task among investors in forestry to optimise the joint production of wood and carbon sequestration. For instance, investors might find it profitable to give up some timber returns in exchange for carbon credits. This study evaluated expected income from growing Cupressus lusitanica Mill., Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham., Eucalyptus saligna Sm. and Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. for wood and/or the carbon market in central Kenya. The global average unit price of carbon and stumpage royalty were used to estimate expected returns from sale of carbon credits and wood, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0.01) in the expected amount of income from sale of carbon and wood among the four species. Specifically, at economic rotation of 30 years with stand density of 532 trees ha

The introduction of carbon finance as an incentive in forestry farming has a potential of increasing the amount of carbon sequestered. However, this has created a daunting task among investors in forestry to optimise the joint production of wood and carbon sequestration. For instance, investors might find it profitable to give up some timber returns in exchange for carbon credits. This study evaluated expected income from growing Cupressus lusitanica Mill., Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham., Eucalyptus saligna Sm. and Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. for wood and/or the carbon market in central Kenya. The global average unit price of carbon and stumpage royalty were used to estimate expected returns from sale of carbon credits and wood, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0.01) in the expected amount of income from sale of carbon and wood among the four species. Specifically, at economic rotation of 30 years with stand density of 532 trees ha

A number of factors persist to constrain the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) market and, by extension, its potential to contribute meaningfully to livelihood development and poverty reduction objectives. To better utilise the potential of NTFPs, it is important to have a better understanding of the key factors governing the success and failure of NTFPs trade. This paper reports on the market constraints and socio-economic factors that influence trade in five top-priority NTFPs within the tropical lowland rainforests of south-west Nigeria. The NTFPs investigated were bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), African walnut (Plukenetia conophora), chew-stick (Massularia acuminata), fever bark (Annickia chlorantha) and bush pepper (Piper guineense). Field data were collected in 10 villages located within and around Omo and Shasha forest reserves using a household questionnaire survey. The results showed that seasonality, poor transport, lack of storage facilities and market information were the four main constraints influencing marketing and trade in the NTFPs. In addition, the level of education, gender (sex), household income, ethnicity, distance to the market and access to roads significantly influenced market knowledge and information among households involved in the trade of NTFPs. There is need to improve on the limited source of NTFPs information, enhance skills for product transformation, build innovative storage facilities, and develop the process of domestication and integration in traditional land-use systems.

In the SADC region both forests and water are highly valued resources and yet there is no clear strategy on how to manage them in an integrated manner. Conceptual clarity on the effect of forest cover on water yield and water quality is evident. However, the lingering question is still whether forests are major regulators, consumers or producers of water (Dudley and Stilton, 2003; Cal der et al, 2007).

This study assessed ecological and socio-economic impacts of a participatory forest management project in the Republic of Benin. The study focused on the Wari-Maro Forest Reserve and the ‘Projet d’Aménagement des Massifs Forestiers’ five years after its completion. A forest inventory was carried out using 37 square plots of 729 m2 each to characterise the population structure of two types of plantations established: plantations with exotic species and plantations with native species. In addition, individual surveys were conducted with local households, organs of joint forest management and forestry officers to evaluate their perceptions about the participatory management of the plantations. Finally, the sustainability of the participatory management was assessed with an established rating system. Results showed that plantations with exotic species were more successful than plantations with native species. Local communities argued that they have not been involved in the plantations design but only in the implementation step and that their standards of living have decreased after the project completion. The rating system used showed that the participatory management of plantations had a short-term sustainability. The findings suggest that future projects should be designed and implemented with better participation of local communities as full partners.

Public Forest Administration in Sub-Saharan AfricaOne of the case studies commissioned by the Sustainable Forest Management in Africa (SFM) project was on Public Forest Administrations and Related Institutions (PFAs).

Aims of the handbook and how it was compiled Commissioned by the African Forest Forum (AFF), the general aim of this study was to compile and document, in one publication, the information on FC relevant to Africa scattered in various sources globally, including in the different sub-regions and countries in Africa, as well as review the current status of certification in the different sub-regions of Africa and the continent as a whole. It is hoped, among other things, that this will enhance the understanding of achievements made so far in FC in Africa as well as identifying gaps, challenges, constraints encountered and needs for capacity building, including training programme(s), that will be instrumental in the promotion and successful implementation of FC in Africa. The specific objectives of the study were to: briefly review the history of FC as well as assess and document FCS that have made footprints in Africa; review accreditation and certification bodies and their roles, FC standards and the processes of their development and enabling conditions for FC; describe how FC is actually implemented in practice and summarize the various contributions of FC; review the status of FC in Africa through the: reviewing of past and ongoing support programmes/projects for FC in the sub-regions; assessment of the current situation of FC in the different countries/sub-regions; assessment and analyses of the extent and scope of engagement of various national/regional/global FCS in the different countries; identification of the types and areas of forests certified and/or undergoing the processes of FC; determining the types and numbers of forest certificates issued and certified forest products and/or services; investigation of availability, focus and scope of national/sub-regional/international FC standards; investigation of availability of capacity for FC in the sub-regions; assessment and documentation of the perceptions of stakeholders on FC and their involvement in and support to the FC processes; assessment of availability/prospects of markets and market information systems for certified forest products/services from the sub-regions; documentation of positive and negative lessons learnt; identification of gaps, challenges and/or constraints of past and ongoing efforts in FC in the sub-regions; analyses of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of past and ongoing efforts on FC; assessment and identification of needs for capacity building for FC in the sub-regions; and, forward viable/feasible recommendations for promoting FC in the sub-regions in general and AFF engagement in FC in particular. To achieve these objectives, different methods were employed, including: (i) synthesizing findings and information from studies commissioned by AFF in the eastern and southern, central, northern and western Africa sub-regions; (ii) reviewing and synthesizing relevant information from: (a) published documents (books, periodicals, manuals, scientific journals, reports), (b) unpublished documents, (c) websites of forest certification schemes/systems (FCSs), certified forest companies, countries with certified products as well as those active in FC, organizations offering training on FC and those who were/are active in supporting FC in Africa, and, (d) other internet resources; and, (iii) consultation with experts and authorities responsible for FC and certified forest companies.