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Background and rationale

In Gabon, the responsible management of natural resources in general and forestry in particular is at the heart of government policy. Indeed, it allows the country to reconcile its diversification and economic growth objectives with international and national commitments to protect the environment, preserve biodiversity and combat climate change.

Through the policies, strategies and plans developed and implemented, the Gabonese government has constantly reaffirmed its ambition to "make Gabon a world leader in certified tropical timber" and has established a dynamic around the forestry-wood sector, which has resulted in the gradual strengthening of the related institutional and legal framework.  Gabon intends to use forest certification as a public policy tool to promote transparency, accountability and participation of all stakeholders in forest sector activities. Thus, in September 2018, the Gabonese authorities decided to generalise forest certification, a decision whose implementation requires the mobilisation of all stakeholders.

For FSC, the promotion of responsible forest management requires the participation of all stakeholders. For FSC, promoting responsible forest management requires the participation of all stakeholders. This is why it is important to raise awareness and mobilise stakeholders in order to bring about a change in behaviours and practises that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

It is with this in mind that FSC organised the FSC Forest Week in September 2022.FSC The FSC Forest Week is a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of forests and how buying goods with sustainable sourcing may contribute to the development of resilient forests in the future

Because communication play a huge role in the promotion of responsible forest management, for this first edition of the Congo Basin Forest Week, FSC has chosen to further engage the media by :

  • The organization of a press-café whose objective is to share with journalists the tools and approaches of investigation.  
    The launch of the FSC Challenge to reward the best reports on responsible forest management in general and forest certification in particular.      

Presentation of the FSC Challenge award

The FSC Challenge award is a special award for the best reporting on responsible forest management in Gabon and the Congo Basin that was launched during FSC Forest Week 2022. This award aims to encourage investigative journalism, mobilise the media around issues related to responsible forest management in Gabon and the Congo Basin and strengthen their contribution to public awareness.

Conditions of participation

To participate in the FSC challenge, journalists must meet the following requirements :

  • Be a national and/or based in Gabon;
  • Have a degree in communication/journalism or have worked for two years without interruption in a media organisation;
  • Be affiliated with a legally recognised media organisation (print, online, radio and TV).
  • Send reports (article, film, documentary, podcast...) produced and broadcast between September 30 and December 31, 2022 in French;
  • The report must be the work of the applicant;
  • Only one report is accepted per applicant.

Journalistic articles and publications must cover one of the following themes :

  • The role of responsible forest management in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Gabon;
  • The contribution of forest certification to the achievement of Gabon's economic, social and environmental objectives;
  • The role of forests in Gabon and the Congo Basin in the fight against climate change  ;

Selection criteria

The productions selected for the award must meet these criteria :

  • Strengthen public understanding of responsible forest management;
  • A production that strictly respects journalistic ethics and deontology
  • An original investigative production that speaks to the issues while maintaining their integrity
  • Be produced or directed between September 30 and December 31, 2022.

The award

The winners will receive the following prizes :

  • 1st place: 300,000 FCFA, 1 technical training, 1 sponsored reporting trip to one of the national parks, 1 privileged access to all FSC events in the Congo Basin over six months and 1 FSC kit.
  • 2nd place: 200,000 FCFA, 1 sponsored visit to an FSC certified forest concession and 1 FSC kit.
  • 3rd place: 100,000 FCFA and 1 FSC kit.

Jury 

An independent jury composed of forest sector specialists, press and communication professionals will be formed to independently review the entries.

The award will be announced in January 2023.

How to apply

  • Publish your stories/articles or audio in a recognised media (traditional and/or digital) and send proof of publication or broadcast of your stories/articles (publication link, copy of newspaper/magazine, audio recording etc.) to the email address fscafrica@fsc.org ;
  • All emails should be addressed to FSC Challenge 2022.

Deadline :

Applications must be received by 6.30pm on 31 December at the latest.

FSC Africa is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation - http://www.fpa2.org