ATIBT activities to promote tropical woods are numerous, and are adapted according to the priorities of the Association's members.
ATIBT is representative of the private sector in the tropical forest and timber sector in West and Central Africa.
It is also representative of the companies importing tropical wood in Europe. This representation is based on the panel of companies that have directly joined the Association, but also European federations and producers' unions from Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As such, ATIBT is often requested by governments, institutions and donors to participate in meetings or discussions on the present or future of the sector.
It should be recalled that the contribution of the forestry sector in the Congo Basin is extremely significant in terms of employment or contribution to the countries' GDP.
The Association relies on a team and partners to carry out various projects.
In some cases, it will be a direct management, in other cases, ATIBT may be led to entrust partners engineering offices or recognized experts to monitor these projects.
The projects are diverse, but will always reflect the concerns of the members. Currently, the main projects conducted by the ATIBT concern the marketing of tropical timber, professional training and sustainable management.
Above all, as a professional association, ATIBT is a platform for exchange and sharing between its members, who can thus jointly carry out actions to defend their interests, reflect on the future of their profession and promote their assets. Thus, the role played by certified forest companies at the local or territorial level must be highlighted.
ATIBT Marketing program is one of the largest currently underway.
It was launched with the support of KFW (PPECF) and AFD, with the initial objective of better understanding tropical timber markets and identifying strategic levers to stimulate markets for sustainable timber.
This program is focused on 2 issues:
The sustainable management of tropical forests is one of ATIBT historical challenges, since the Association was a pioneer in the 1990s in carrying out a reflection on the subject which led to the first management plans in the Congo Basin. Sustainable management of exploited forests means that the rules and practices of exploitation can ensure the sustainability of the resources and services provided by the forests while generating economic benefits for the populations. Sustainable forest exploitation is defined on the basis of forest management plans that allow for long-term management planning and whose resource replenishment calculation is based on the timber potential initially exploitable.
The Association is currently reflecting on the necessary evolution of development plans. Indeed, the first generation of development plans, dating from the late 1990s, is coming to an end in some countries.
Training is one of the strong points of ATIBT strategy.
This strategy is set up by the Training Commission. Vocational training and continuous training contribute to the profitability of the sector, its flexibility and the development of people.
During recent major professional meetings, and in particular the 2017 forum held in Dubai, the members of the Association have insisted that training should be once again one of the priorities.
ATIBT has thus equipped itself with the means and orientations inherent to the quality of vocational training in the sector in relation to sustainable forest management, which led to the launch of the ADEFAC project jointly with RIFFEAC.
ATIBT provides professionals and the general public with a wide range of institutional, technical and commercial information on all major issues related to the tropical timber environment, such as promoting legality, sustainable forest management and improvement of industrial processing methods.
COLLECTS, ANALYZES AND KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION
ATIBT collects and analyzes information on the timber industry through its close relationship with the private sector and public institutions, for the dissemination of technical knowledge and a wide dissemination of best practices.
Events such as Forums and Racewood, as well as timber trade shows in which ATIBT participates (Carrefour International du Bois, Dubai WoodShow …), are opportunities to share ideas and projects.
Interaction with international organizations, NGOs, donors, states and COMIFAC can intensify the messages.
