04.11.2024
The ATIBT Forum was held on October 3 and 4 in Antwerp, Belgium. We are pleased to share the final report.
We are delighted to have once again brought together a large number of companies and partners, as well as representatives of institutions from both consumer and producer countries.
Numerous feedbacks from participants confirm the positive impact of these two intense days.
Among the results we can mention, despite the absence of certain EU authorities, the frank discussions on questions relating to the implementation of the RDUE were useful, even if the implementation of this regulation is no longer immediate.
The postponement of the RDUE is seen as an opportunity for the timber sector to prepare more effectively for the implementation of the regulation, clarifying the regulation's grey areas, but it will be necessary to maintain the mobilization of the private sector and avoid any slackening of preparation efforts. Above all, it will be necessary to clarify ambiguous points in the regulation, notably the definition of forest degradation and the obligations of traders.
ATIBT will, of course, continue to support companies in using the information system, offering training and technical support.
From the point of view of exporting countries, while the postponement of the application of the regulation has been generally welcomed, it has become clear that effective implementation of the EU RD will require close collaboration between all players in the value chain, more transparent communication on the part of the EU and greater consideration of local specificities.
Certification bodies such as FSC and PEFC have a key role to play in raising awareness and supporting responsible practices. This timeframe should therefore be used to build a solid and sustainable framework for the EUDR, contributing to a sustainable future for the timber industry.
The presence of authorities from the Congo Basin and the Secretary General of CITES also enabled important discussions to take place concerning trade in certain species. As more species are listed in Appendix 2 of CITES, new resources are needed in both producing and importing countries to ensure that trade in these species remains fluid. A general lack of qualified personnel and adequate resources has been noted, affecting the effectiveness of the convention's implementation, both in Central Africa and in Europe. In particular, Belgian customs acknowledged that the team has no additional resources to cope with the increase in the number of CITES-listed species, but stressed the high level of motivation of its team and the importance of partnerships in carrying out their mission.
It is crucial to strengthen the capacities of Central African countries by offering them targeted financial support to enable them to respond effectively to CITES requirements. Efforts must be made to ensure that these countries have the necessary resources to comply with the rules of the convention. Forestry companies emphasize the importance of more transparent communication and clear guidelines from the European Union regarding CITES timber import requirements. Such communication would promote better compliance while reducing the risk of inadvertent errors.
A CITES Appendix 2 listing can have positive repercussions for forestry companies, provided that all stakeholders rigorously respect the principles of the convention. On the other hand, any deviation from these principles could be detrimental to companies, compromising their compliance and reputation on the international market.
Preparations for the next CITES COP, scheduled for December 2025, were naturally on the agenda, with the mobilization of Central African countries to work together in concertation processes, in order to highlight the region's assets in meeting the convention's requirements.
When properly designed and implemented, management plans make it possible to anticipate the renewal of concession contracts for a second rotation. The overall assessment of the first rotation is positive, although challenges remain, notably the need to diversify species harvesting. Researchers and companies confirm that a “ product approach ” is best suited to solving this challenge. The promotion of new species is very costly, requiring: research to analyze the technical characteristics of wood for all species grouped by species name; tests for any heat treatments needed to improve these characteristics; and inventories to determine their distribution in the forest. Staff training is also important to ensure that only species with good technical characteristics and a strong presence in the forest can be harvested and subsequently valorized.
To prepare management plans for the second rotation, it is important to redo management inventories, use innovative technologies and take into account new environmental and social issues. The integration of silviculture, including reforestation, could help increase regeneration and reconstitution rates for certain species, and still requires a great deal of research. A comprehensive assessment of the first rotation's management and collaboration between all stakeholders will enable specific legislation to be drawn up for the second rotation.
The importance of forest carbon projects was stressed once again, as was the need for collaboration between the various players to overcome obstacles. In a context and at a time when sustainable tropical forest management is facing a paradigm shift, with the current model relying more on past practices and having reached certain limits, innovative finance and nature-based solutions, whether they come from carbon or biodiversity, are real levers enabling these models to endure and evolve in the future. While carbon markets have been around for a long time and are sometimes called into question, the economic model for biodiversity has yet to be developed, and promises great opportunities.
COMIFAC has expressed its desire to finalize a new agreement with ATIBT, one of the objectives of which will be to prepare for the sector's participation in the COP Climate and COP Biodiversity meetings.
In terms of vocational training, the ADEFAC project has helped build capacity in several Central African countries, but the continuity of efforts will largely depend on the ability of local players to secure financing and structure recognized training systems. Various prospects and opportunities were mentioned. Although significant progress has been made under the ADEFAC project, there is still work to be done to sustain these efforts. The importance of finding funding to continue after the end of this project was raised, to prevent current efforts from collapsing once the project is over. The SP reiterated the importance of ongoing training to improve staff skills and company performance, and stressed the need to continue developing and validating training modules to meet the growing needs of the sector.
