Africa is the second continent, after South America, in terms of biodiversity with a total of nearly 20,364 species (of which 15,643 are animals). However, almost a quarter of Africa's fauna is considered threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This year, out of a total of 100,000 species recorded worldwide, the IUCN listed 28,000 species threatened with extinction. The African continent's fauna is the second most threatened in the world.
Endangered Species Day, to which the FSC renews its support every year, is an opportunity to remind the world of the importance of protecting endangered species and to consider, in a concrete way, how to do it!
The causes of the extinction of species are known: human beings are primarily responsible. Intensive land use for agriculture and forestry, hunting and fishing, but also climate change, pollution and invasive species - such as thorny bushes - are the primarily responsible.
In response, many organizations around the world have become involved in the fight against the destruction of natural habitats and human-animal conflicts. Their action, coupled with that of civil society, has raised awareness on the importance of conserving diversity. Among these organizations is the Forest Stewardship Council.
According to FSC principles, forest management has beneficial effects on animal and plant species, including those classified as threatened and vulnerable by the IUCN. Indeed, well-managed forest concessions not only help prevent deforestation while maintaining timber harvesting, and they also act as corridors for wildlife.
Principle 9 of FSC certification, linked to the preservation of high conservation value forests*, also requires forest managers to identify and conserve areas considered essential to provide various ecosystem or cultural services (habitats of protected species, old-growth forests, avalanche protection areas, etc.).
In addition, FSC-certified forest concessions are also required to engage in dialogue with forest populations to explain, among other things, the benefits of sustainable forest management and how to preserve wildlife.
Finally, FSC certification requires concessionaires to invest in the protection of animal species through the implementation of anti-poaching programs.
Throughout Africa, FSC-certified forest operators contribute to the protection of endangered species.
This is also the case in Central Africa, in the heart of the Congo Basin region, which offers exceptional biodiversity: 10,000 plant species - 3,000 of which are endemic - and many rare but endangered animal species - around 400 species of mammals. Several species are poached in this part of the African continent: elephants and hippopotamuses for their ivory, which is sold at a high price, particularly in Asia. The FSC label is also highly valued by forest concessionaires in Central Africa because the Congo Basin has one of the largest populations of lowland gorillas and chimpanzees in the world: their survival depends largely on the conservation of tropical forests.
For example, in Interholco's FSC-certified forest concessions in the Republic of Congo, where 70,000 Western Lowland Gorillas are counted (according to the WCS/USA study), Interholco foresters harvest only one tree per two hectares (or two football fields) on average per year. The concession is divided into 30 different zones, and only one zone is harvested each year to allow the other 29 to regenerate for 30 years.
In addition, 27% of the total forest area is permanently protected to preserve trees, produce valuable resources for local people - including local indigenous people - and provide refuge for areas with high concentrations of rare animal and plant species.
All these measures have proven to be effective in preserving gorillas!
. This is also the case in southern Africa, notably in Namibia, which is home to a third of the world's cheetah population and where the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), through the Bushlok initiative, is working with the FSC to preserve the cheetah. This species is now considered vulnerable because it faces the problem of bush encroachment, i.e. the excessive expansion of bushes and trees.
. This is still the case in East Africa and South Africa where the wild dog, golden cat and ghost frog are protected in FSC concessions.
In Uganda's Kitonda Forest, Global Woods has set aside more than 20% of its FSC-certified plantations for biodiversity conservation. In these reserved areas, intensive forest ranger patrols are carried out to control illegal logging and poaching. These forests are home to more than 20 different species of mammals and 300 different species of birds including the African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata), the Black and White Monkey Colobus (Colobus guereza) and the Bush Pig (Potamochoerus larvatus).
In Tanzania, it is the African wild dog, one of the world's most endangered mammals, that finds refuge in the certified community forests of Mpingo. The species is classified as Endangered by IUCN. The African wild dog was intensively hunted until the 1970s. However, neither its meat nor its fur was commercialized: this species was considered a nuisance, accused of devouring farm animals, spreading diseases, etc.
In South Africa, on Mountain To Ocean (MTO) plantations, which have been FSC-certified for more than 20 years, Hewitt's ghost frog is fighting for its survival. The species has adapted to the challenges of mountain life and has survived several mass extinctions - until today. Since 1999, MTO Forestry has funded several studies to learn more about these interesting amphibians and assess their population size and distribution. In doing so, MTO has identified some of the severe threats these frogs face and has taken action to protect them.
Clearly, FSC certification of forests contributes to theconservation of biodiversity. This forest certification system promotesecologically appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forestmanagement. Products made from wood from FSC-certified forests can berecognized by the FSC logo which is applied to each product. The logoguarantees that the product has been manufactured from a forest managed inaccordance with sustainable forestry standards.
Thus, by choosing to buy FSC-certified products, consumers encourage producers and industries to adopt responsible behavior and make a concrete contribution to the sustainable use of the planet's forest resources.
Pour en savoir plus :Interholco:[url]https://interholco.com/images/pdfs/Maisels-et-al-2015-Wildlife-and-human-impact-survey-of-Ngombe-Ntokou-Pikounda-EN-v2_FINAL.pdf[/url]Globalwoods [url]https://uganda.global-woods.com/[/url] MPINGO(MDCI) [url]http://www.mpingoconservation.org/[/url]MTOPlantations [url]https://www.forestrysouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HGF-PRINT-FINAL.pdf[/url]CheetahProtection Fund [url]https://cheetah.org/[/url]