54. The purpose of this side meeting was to inform participants about the Regional Code of Practice which was launched at the World Forestry Congress in Quebec City, Canada, in September 2003, and receive comments thereon. Copies of the Code were made available in both English and French, and a background note was distributed to facilitate discussion.
55. Participants were informed that the development of the Regional Code had involved consultation with many organizations concerned with forest management and harvesting in tropical moist forests in Africa, as well as extensive studies and reviews. The process included case studies in four countries (Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana and Congo) as well as a regional workshop held in Gabon in 2003.
56. The Regional Code is viewed as a non-legally binding set of guidelines and benchmarks for improved harvesting, applicable to all countries of Central and West Africa with tropical moist forests. It is intended primarily to serve as a reference for those African countries which are considering the adoption or revision of their own national codes of forest harvesting practice. In practical terms, such codes are deemed necessary to promote harvesting practices that will improve standards of utilization, reduce environmental impacts, and thereby ensure that forests are sustainably managed.
57. The reaction of participants was positive and constructive. The awareness-raising was welcomed and it was suggested that it be extended to technical schools and research institutions. Research institutions were also called upon to include the impact of logging in their programmes.
58. Doubts were expressed as to whether smaller and/or informal harvesting operators would be interested to incur costs on a voluntary basis by introducing such codes into their operations. Some disappointment was expressed that the Regional Code was only intended to be ethical and advisory rather than judicial. Furthermore, participants were reminded that other sectors (e.g. mining) not covered by the Regional Code impact more adversely than logging on forests.
59. It was noted that the scope of the Regional Code is limited to timber harvesting, even if general principles relevant to all harvesting was covered. Delegates at the meeting deplored the fact that non-timber forest products which are harvested in great volumes, often indiscriminately and with severe impacts on resource availability and sustainability, are not emphasised in the Code. The applicability to woodfuel harvesting and to “forest-poor” countries such as members of the initiative for Low Forest Cover Countries was recognised by participants, and they encouraged the adoption of the Code’s principles in all African countries.