From 15 to 19 October, those involved in social forestry in Gabon benefited from intensive training organised by the Moyen-Ogooué Provincial Department of Water and Forests, with the support of the NGO Conservation Justice.
The workshops, held in Lambaréné and Ndjolé, were designed to equip community leaders and local authorities to improve governance of forest resources, as part of the RALF project funded by the European Union.
More than 50 participants, including community forest managers and village representatives, were briefed on mechanisms such as the Contractual Terms of Reference (Cahiers de Charges Contractuelles – CCC) and the Local Development Fund (Fonds de Développement Local – FDL).
Governor Jean Benoit Bekale emphasised the importance of these tools for improving forest management, while involving local communities and ensuring a fair distribution of forestry revenues.
The discussions also highlighted the challenges encountered in implementing these mechanisms. Abdoul Eyeghe Traoré, head of legal affairs at Conservation Justice, explained that many communities were facing shortcomings in terms of governance and the use of funds. Awareness of the need to set up Project Management and Monitoring Committees (PMMCs) was therefore stepped up in order to fill these gaps.
The participants expressed their satisfaction with this initiative, as Rodrigue Ndong Mba, General Secretary of the Abanga Island Community Forest, pointed out. He praised the workshops for their clarity on the role of each member in forest management. These workshops help to overcome the lack of knowledge and management skills that are often at the root of internal conflicts and loss of resources.
By strengthening the training of local players, these sessions represent a step forward in ensuring the sustainable development and effective governance of community forests in Gabon.
Fanta Mabo
