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Do Forest-Management Plans and FSC Certification Help Avoid Deforestation in the Congo Basin?

Author

Listed:
  • Kenneth HOUNGBEDJI
  • Isabelle TRITSCH
  • Gwenole LE VELLY
  • Benoît MERTENS
  • Patrick MEYFROIDT
  • Christophe SANNIER
  • Jean-Sylvestre MAKAK
  • Kenneth HOUNGBEDJI

Abstract

To allow for the production of timber while preserving conservation values, forestry regulations in the Congo Basin have made Forest Management Plans (FMP) mandatory in logging concessions. This paper uses original high-resolution maps of forest-cover changes and official records on the activities of logging concessions to analyze the impact of FMP on deforestation in this region. We apply quasi-experimental and difference-in-difference approaches to evaluate the change in deforestation in concessions managed under an approved FMP. We find that between 2000 and 2010, deforestation was 74% lower in concessions with an FMP compared to others. Building on a theory of change, further analyses revealed that this decrease in deforestation takes time to occur and is highest around communities located in and nearby logging concessions, and in areas close to previous deforestation. These findings suggest that FMP help avoid deforestation by allowing logging companies to rotate cycles of timber extraction, thereby avoiding the overexploitation of areas that were previously logged, and by the better regulation of access to concessions by closing former logging roads to limit illegal activities such as shifting agriculture, hunting and the illegal harvest of timber or fuel-wood.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth HOUNGBEDJI & Isabelle TRITSCH & Gwenole LE VELLY & Benoît MERTENS & Patrick MEYFROIDT & Christophe SANNIER & Jean-Sylvestre MAKAK & Kenneth HOUNGBEDJI, 2019. "Do Forest-Management Plans and FSC Certification Help Avoid Deforestation in the Congo Basin?," Working Paper d406edbc-23ca-4619-8e3d-2, Agence française de développement.
    • Handle: RePEc:avg:wpaper:en9560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Kenneth Houngbedji & Benoit Mertens, 2022. "Plans d'aménagement forestier et conditions de vie des populations des forêts d'Afrique centrale," Post-Print hal-03954488, HAL.
    3. Nakaishi, Tomoaki & Chapman, Andrew, 2024. "Eco-labels as a communication and policy tool: A comprehensive review of academic literature and global label initiatives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    4. Delacote, Philippe & Le Velly, Gwenolé & Simonet, Gabriela, 2022. "Revisiting the location bias and additionality of REDD+ projects: the role of project proponents status and certification," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Cosimo, Luiz Henrique Elias & Masiero, Mauro & Mammadova, Aynur & Pettenella, Davide, 2024. "Voluntary sustainability standards to cope with the new European Union regulation on deforestation-free products: A gap analysis," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    6. Chervier, Colas & Atmadja, Stibniati S. & Nofyanza, Sandy & Annisa, Choiriatun Nur & Nurfatriani, Fitri & Kristiningrum, Rochadi & Sahide, Muhammad Alif K. & Suhardiman, Ali & Umar, Syukur, 2025. "Impact of Indonesia's Forest Management Units on the reduction of forest loss and forest fires in Sulawesi," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    7. Klaus Deininger & Aparajita Goyal, 2024. "Land Policies for Resilient and Equitable Growth in Africa [Des politiques foncières pour une croissance résiliente et équitable en Afrique - Résumé analytique]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 41451, April.
    8. Guillaume Lescuyer & Raphaël Tsanga & Samir Nziengui & Eric Forni & Claudia Romero, 2021. "Influence of FSC certification on the governance of the logging sector in the Congo basin," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(3), pages 289-304, August.
    9. Chervier, Colas & Ximenes, Arimatéa C. & Mihigo, Blaise-Pascal Ntirumenyerwa & Doumenge, Charles, 2024. "Impact of industrial logging concession on deforestation and forest degradation in the DRC," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    10. Halalisan, Florin & Romero, Claudia & Popa, Bogdan & Arana Landin, German & Talpa, Nicolae & ABRUDAN, Ioan Vasile, 2023. "Global assessment of FSC forest management certification auditing through analysis of accreditation reports," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Liu, Bingcai & Roopsind, Anand & Sohngen, Brent, 2024. "Overlapping extractive land use rights increases deforestation and forest degradation in managed natural production forests," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    12. Shapiro, Aurélie & d’Annunzio, Rémi & Desclée, Baudouin & Jungers, Quentin & Kondjo, Héritier Koy & Iyanga, Josefina Mbulito & Gangyo, Francis Inicko & Nana, Tatiana & Obame, Conan Vassily & Milandou,, 2023. "Small scale agriculture continues to drive deforestation and degradation in fragmented forests in the Congo Basin (2015–2020)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    13. Jean-Louis Combes & Pascale Combes Motel & Manegdo Ulrich Doamba & Youba Ndiaye, 2023. "Mining the forests: do protected areas hinder mining-driven forest loss in Sub-Saharan Africa?," Working Papers hal-04061084, HAL.
    14. Bossoma Doriane N'Doua, 2023. "The impact of forest management certification on exports in the wood sector: Evidence from French firm-level data," Post-Print hal-04213369, HAL.
    15. Rico-Straffon, Jimena & Wang, Zhenhua & Panlasigui, Stephanie & Loucks, Colby J. & Swenson, Jennifer & Pfaff, Alexander, 2023. "Forest concessions and eco-certifications in the Peruvian Amazon: Deforestation impacts of logging rights and logging restrictions," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

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    • Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics

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