Potential synergies of current forestry efforts and climate change mitigation in Central Africa

Forests of central Africa are the most important block of forest in Africa and the second in the world after the Amazon. Important carbon stocks are stored in natural forest stands, while activities which modify the carbon storage are occurring in the forest landscape. The global concerns on the negative impact of climate change are leading among others preoccupations to the proposition of using forestry, or forest related activities in the strategies to mitigate climate change. Beside the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) with afforestation and reforestation strategies to sequester carbon, the avo ided emission of carbon into the atmosphere through the REDD (Reduction of Emission through Deforestation and Degradation) initiative is viewed as one way to mitigate climate change. These mitigation strategies also concerned the forestry sectors of Central Africa region. The main causes of land use changes in the region are small holder subsistence practices and logging activities. At the same time important forest habitat protection activities are implemented with the aim of conserving in sustainable manner the biodiversity of the region. The deforestation rate in Central Africa is substantially lower than other areas, with deforestation rates less than 1% per year. However, as the forest and land resources of other areas diminishing, it is unknown if th e pressure on this region will rise significantly in the future. The region is dominated by mature tropical forest cover with high carbon stocks and therefore conversion to agriculture causes large greenhouse gas emissions per unit area. Agricultural production has low productivity levels and therefore investments in improved agricultural techniques can both reduce pressure on existing forests and perhaps allow for the reforestation of existing degraded lands. The logging industry is dominated by large indu strial scale logging operations performing selective logging of specific species and large trees. The adoption of improved forest management practices is taking place by some companies and will reduce the impact of such logging on the ecological integrity and carbon stocks Some efforts to engage in the carbon market have begun in the region. COMIFAC has served as a dominant role in both evaluating the potential for the region in carbon markets and investing in the development of pilot programs. Further research is needed into the types of projects that will most likely become successful in the region and what locations will offer the greatest benefits. Key worlds: Congo Basin, Climate change mitigation, REDD, C DM, land use land cover change.