The Gabon Wood 2nd edition took place from 24 to 26 June 2019 in Libreville, Gabon. Following its successful launch edition in 2018, the fair has gained the reputation of being the only dedicated platform for the wood, forestry and machinery sectors in the West and Central African region. This unique and exciting platform offers visitors and exhibitors the chance to meet wood, woodworking machinery and forestry professionals, develop ideas for increasing the range and quality of one’s business, and learn new techniques and sources of supply. The exhibition is organized in partnership with Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), based on the outskirts of Libreville. GSEZ is a business partnership between Olam International and the Gabonese government. In the first edition of the Gabon Wood Show, in June 2018, FSC Congo basin met all the stakeholders of the region. It further made its presence felt by participating as a panellist at the Racewood Conference, organizing an FSC Regional Members meeting and a business en-counter at the Meridien Rendama hotel, and otherwise engaging with the public in a booth on the fair itself.
This year, the stakes were even higher for FSC. Since the President of Gabon announced on September 26th, 2018, his decision that all forest concessions should be FSC-certified by 2022, Gabon has been a key market for FSC’s development. The international organization has reinforced its local presence to support the institutions in the implementation of this decision and to accompany foresters in their journey towards certification.
Being at the Gabon Wood Show was, therefore, a must. Supported by FSC Africa Communication Manager, FSC Congo Basin decided to capitalize on this event to launch its first communication campaign since the Presidential decision. There was much information to share:
- Presentation of the new team members and in particular Harrison Kojwang, Regional Director, Bertin Tchikangwa, Sub-Regional Coordinator, and Nathalie Bouville, Regional Communications Manager.
- Presentation of the mission, values, and certification standards of FSC, with 2 conferences attended by more than 100 participants as well as with discussions with visitors to the FSC’s booth.
- Promotion of the organization through a series of interviews with the local media.
During the 3 days of the fair, a constant flow of people visited the booth and obtained more information on FSC. Many important meetings were held with forest companies, certification bodies and financial partners. Many companies feel that the cost of becoming certified is a hindrance and that they need financial support and loans in order to engage in the certification process. Among the high-level encounters, we can mention the visits to the FSC’s booth of the Country Resident Director of the United Nations Systems Stephen Jackson, the UNEP representative Francis James, and the AFDB bank Regional Director Robert Masumbuko. Representatives of the FSC Certificate holders of the region were also present and among them CIB Olam, Rougier and Interholco.
As Harrison Kojwang, the Regional Director said: “Being at the Gabon Wood Show was a must for us, and we are very happy to have been able to meet with so many stakeholders of the forest sector from Gabon, the Congo Basin and other parts of the world. Being able to explain who we are and to present the benefits of FSC certification to so many people on one go was also a real plus.”
Bertin Tchikangwa, the Sub-Regional Coordinator, also took the opportunity of the Gabon Wood Show to inform the public of the upcoming opening of the FSC office in Libreville. He stated that “having a formal presence in Libreville will help us establish close links with all the interested parties in the FSC certification process. We will organize training and presentation sessions for all who wish to embark in the certification process”.
With the opening of office space in Libreville and the permanent presence of FSC staff in the country, FSC Congo Basin has made Gabon a key priority in its development strategy in the region.
FSC hopes to increase its areas of Forest Management certified forest as well as its Chain of Custody certificate holders. Participating in the Gabon Wood Show was certainly a key com-ponent to reach its objectives.