FSC: Tell us a bit about the book.
MB: The book “Central African Forests Forever” presents opportunities and solutions to save the Congo Basin rainforest and its mega-biodiversity. It touches on FSC-certified forest management, Analog forestry, REDD+, community-based ecotourism, women’s empowerment, land rights, innovation in agriculture and much more. The book is already taking shape on the internet. It grows like a tree, every two or three months new chapters are added. Upon completion, the book will be printed in English and in French. So far eight chapters have been published on the website, including three chapters about FSC-certified forest management. Anyone can read these chapters for free via the website. Ten to fifteen new chapters will follow.
Web statistics show that the book is already receiving a lot of attention in Central Africa, in addition to many international visitors to the website.
FSC: Your background is in conservation. Do you see the sustainable management of natural resources playing a role in protecting biodiversity?
MB: To conserve ecosystems and biodiversity, certain valuable areas should be strictly protected without any modern economic activity taking place within the aforementioned protected area. Sustainable management of natural resources in buffer zones around protected areas serves two goals: it assists in the protection of valuable and biodiversity rich areas, and it provides jobs and income. It is my view that the sustainable use of natural resources with respect for nature and with respect for people means that these natural resources will remain an everlasting source of well-being. Sustainable forest management guarantees a continuous supply of wood well into the future, jobs for future generations of forest workers and also contributes to the continued existence of animals and plants.
FSC: You’ve written about forests before. What draws you to the topic?
MB: First of all, the beauty when looking down on endless forest cover, be it the broccoli-like cover of rainforests or the dark green of vast pine forests in North America or Russia.
Forests are sources of food and water and treasure troves of biodiversity. Forests provide many ecosystem services which are very important for the well-being of people, including medicinal plants, climate regulation, flood prevention, water purification, nutrient cycling, pollination by insects and so much more. To be able to contribute to keeping forests intact gives me profound satisfaction.
FSC: How did you first become aware of FSC?
MB: During my time at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Netherlands in the 1990s. WWF was one of the founders of the Forest Stewardship Council.
FSC: You went on quite a journey through Central Africa to write this book. What are some of the challenges you encountered and how do you think FSC can address those challenges?
MB: In my opinion the main challenge in Central Africa is poverty alleviation. When people are able to leave poverty behind they have more options to manage forests in a sustainable way. FSC-certified forest management means that local forest workers receive decent wages, work in safe conditions and get educated. Other big challenges are illegal logging and corruption. FSC-certified forest management helps to reduce that, it stands for transparency, legality and tax revenues for the state.
The book can now be accessed on the website at www.centralafricanforests.org