Small forest enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire organize themselves and influence policy

Small forest enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire organize themselves and influence policy

Côte d'Ivoire - 11 May, 2021

In May 2018, the government of Côte d’Ivoire adopted a policy for the conservation and restoration of its forests, and to increase its forest cover to 20% by 2030. One group who contribute to low compliance with forest sector laws are small businesses who depend on informal and illegal timber sawyers and traders, or buy left-over ‘legal’ timber from industrial sawmills. So, the formation of six small forest enterprises in 2019 that have committed to use only legal forest products and now play a role in improving forest governance, is a model for others to follow.

Before, the government and donors sought an inclusive approach with respect to CSOs and logging companies, but not to smaller and less formal operators. This project filled that gap by training and informing small and medium-sized forest enterprises on forest law, sustainable forest management, climate change, and international initiatives such as FLEGT and REDD+. The direct beneficiaries were charcoal traders, timber retailers, and small carpentry businesses in the domestic forest product market often left out of policy processes that directly affect them.

A series of workshops between 2017 and 2019 deepened the understanding and implications of FLEGT and REDD+ amongst carpenters, wood sellers, NGOs, informal sawyers, charcoal makers, traditional chiefs, larger timber companies and the forestry administration. The workshops also built soft skills such as negotiation, representation and communication. These led by 2019 to the establishment of the Côte d’Ivoire woodworking federation and the creation of five other associations the following year. Yacouba Diarrassouba, president of Abengourou carpenters noted, “Before, when we were not organised, we were always threatened by police officers who came to collect our materials and we did not know which way to turn, but today, with our representation, we know whom to address…”.

Key stakeholders are now better informed and equipped to independently monitor forest operations, conduct consultations and better explain FLEGT and REDD+ processes. Furthermore, they can advocate and influence national forest policy. Three long term impacts are clear from the formation of these industry associations. The first is the direct economic benefit from a reduction in taxes imposed on the sub-sector as lobbied for by the groups. The second relates to changed interactions between these enterprises with the larger forest industry. The third results from an improved relationship with the state. And they are likely to be sustained because associations see the benefits and will remain motivated to stay organized and engaged, and that impact will increase if similar groups in other parts of the country follow their lead.

These achievements and their adoption by others still depends, however, on further funding and the motivation of CSOs like GNT-CI to popularize the approach, support the formation of associations, and mediate discussions with other stakeholders, notably government and industry. The Côte d’Ivoire woodworking federation is also well-placed to continue this kind of work. Other areas of support desired by small and medium forest enterprises include better access to credit and more support from the state to require that larger companies provide them with the raw materials they need.

Stories_of_change-final4.jpgAdapted from "From informal to formal: small forest enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire organize to influence policy" by Rosemonde Etile, Guillaume Odoupke, David Young and Hilaire Yaokokore-Beibro 

 

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Project financed by European Union - The opinions and views expressed are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the opinions and views of the European Union.