B7-6201/97-06/VIII/FOR "Definition of principles and test of criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of African tropical forests from tests conducted in 3 ATO member countries: Ghana, Gabon and Angola" by ATO

Objective : The purpose of this project is to improve the preliminary draft on criteria by testing other forest ecosystems so as to identify the specificities of the other ATO member countries and develop criteria which can be valid in all member countries of ATO. Criteria and indicators will serve as (i) a policy instrument and (ii) a basis for a potential credible certification.

Beneficiaries : ATO member countries

Result : The expected results are the amended set of ATO criteria and indicators. This set will then be used if so desired by the member countries:

• at the national level by every ATO member country, as an input to the work of the national working group, when established or the existing one (including certification issues)
• at the national level to prepare national guidelines to implement sustainable forest management (policy as well as technical guidelines).
• at the regional level, by ATO, to help design regional policy guidelines to help countries co-ordinate their actions towards sustainable forest management, and harmonise their legislations.
• at the international level, to help African countries, through ATO, to express their views in a consensual way, in the international fora, and defend their position (notably in the preparation of an international convention on forests).

Activities : Test the criteria and indicators in the forest areas of five member countries of the ATO : Gabon, Ghana, Angola, Zaire and Congo. A regional round-table meeting after the implementation of the 5 tests to discuss the results of these tests at the regional level. Build consensus with the main stakeholders on ATO criteria and indicators to be defined on this basis.

Coordination : ATO, CIFOR, French Cooperation, USAID, Forest Certification Advisory Group