Securing and improving the Gabon timber chain

Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon are among the top four timber producers. These countries in Congo Basin are key suppliers of tropical hardwood, which is much used in infrastructure and waterworks in the Netherlands and other European countries. A sustainable tropical timber supply chain from Congo Basin to the Netherlands is key for the forests, biodiversity and people in Congo Basin, and for the timber and construction sector and their clients.

The focus of this project is to secure and improve this value chain by investing in sustainable forest management and processing, and strengthening the business case of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forest concessions. The project will create the opportunities to harvest and process more tropical hardwood, with specific attention for so-called lesser known timber species (LKTS) from Gabon. This will have high positive impacts for biodiversity and people living in the forests.

In the tropical timber supply chain from Congo Basin to Europe, Wijma Kampen B.V. and Precious Woods Gabon are key players. Both companies are confronted with high risks in the operational context, in forest management, in the saw mills and in the supply chain. Both companies have a clear International Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy and vision on how the ICSR risks could be tackled: by harvesting, processing and selling more lesser known timber species and heavier types of hardwood. But this requires high investments, a multi-faceted strategy and strong partners. To this end, they have joined forces with FSC Netherland and FSC Congo Basin – parties that can promote the use of lesser known timber species and build strong market links.

By implementing this project, the business case for Precious Woods' sustainable forest management will improve. More lesser known timber species (Bilinga, Okan, Omvong) and heavier types of wood, will be harvested and processed in Gabon. This will lead to long-term preservation of 596,800 hectare of forests and biodiversity (of which 35,755 hectare with high conservation and protected status). 820 existing jobs at Precious Woods will be secured and 50 new jobs will be created (all earning living wages above minimum). Investments in the livelihoods (health, education) and housing for all employees and the 44 indigenous communities (8,000 people) living in and around the forests will be safeguarded and increased.

The timber products will be promoted in the Netherlands/Europe in the engineering, building and construction sectors and the use of sustainable tropical timber in the Netherlands/Europe will increase.