Journalists Empowered to Preach Forest Certification

The media was seen as a medium to better disseminate information on forest certification.
The World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF, has built capacities of professionals in the media on sustainable forest and certification. The seminar took place at Hotel la Falaise in Bonanjo, Douala on February 16.
Forest certification is said to be a new phenomenon which is not known by the community, the reason why some key stakeholders and the public in general may be far from appreciating, participating or understanding the concept and progress that has been made in the domain. According to Elie Hakizumwami, in charge of forest programmes in WWF, one of the main reasons for this situation is lack of sufficient or clear information and understanding of the strides already made and efforts to be made by the various target groups.
To WWF the need to involve the journalists from influential media houses through capacity building sessions and coverage of events related to the promotion of responsible forestry is to enable them better understand the background as well as the concepts and processes related to responsible forestry.
In a brief background, the Congo Basin forest where Cameroonian tropical forest lies is renowned to have one of the highest biodiversity on earth. Most people living in this area rely on the forest for essential resources like meat and non timber products, timber for construction, medicines, among others. Despite this importance, the Congo Basin forest ecosystems are among others threatened by unsustainable forest management, illegal logging and increasing pressure from logging companies and local communities wildlife poaching.
The main objective of the workshop was to build capacities of media for proper understanding and appraisal and promotion of responsible forestry and certification in the Congo Basin in general and in Cameroon in particular through strategic communication.
The workshop had presentations to better understand the functioning and the progress of promotion of sustainable forest management and certification in Cameroon and Congo Basin and discussions on the issues raised from the presentations such as presentation of the Forest Stewardship Council, FSC certification system, partnership for the promotion of responsible forestry, Cameroon forest law and voluntary partnership agreement, field experience with forest certification by a logging company, among others
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO