Economic Development livelihoods Conservation Forest values Biodiversity Protected areas Poverty reduction REGIONAL INVESTMENT FORUMS WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA TROPICAL FOREST INVESTMENT FORUM World Bank Experiences from West Africa and other Regions Peter Kristensen Sector Leader Sustainable Development Africa Forests Teams Accra, Ghana August 28-30, 2007

ESSD Forests Integrate forests into sustainable economic development Bank Forest Strategy Three equally important and interdependent objectives Harness the potential of forests to reduce poverty Protect vital local and global environmental services and values

ESSD Forests Challenges => Poverty Reduction Protect safety nets Ensure equitable benefits and access at the local level (communities, households) => Economic Development Sustainable production and resource use Strengthen FLEG initiatives => $15 billion in revenue lost per year to Bank client due to illegal logging Create enabling environment at the macro level that facilitate sustainable investment in the forestry sector (particularly by communities, smallholders, and SME) => Environmental Services Value forest environmental services Facilitate frameworks for benefit transfers of Payment for Environmental Services

ESSD Forests World Bank Group Forest Lending Global

ESSD Forests Examples of Bank supported work West and Central Africa  Enforcement - DRC and Gabon re-possessing over 30 m ha illegally allocated or held by forest companies and rent seekers  Public disclosure – Cameroon, list of concession holders, forest law offenders, forest permits, reports of independent observers and forest tax statistics are available on the internet  Securing forest revenues for the State and local communities. Reform of outdated tax systems are being reformed in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the DRC, Congo and Gabon.  Monitoring and expanding PAs in Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone in preparation.  International Independent Observers – Cameroon, DRC and Gabon  Liberia Forest Initiative  Ghana Natural Resources Governance  COMIFAC

ESSD Forests World Bank Group support for Regional Forest Investment Forums Objectives => Pursue consensus between different stakeholder groups on priority areas for investment: Governments Local Communities Industry Conservation agencies Financial institutions => Addressing and identifying emerging investment opportunities

ESSD Forests WA Regional Forum on Forests? Possible Objectives for a WA Forum on Forests?  Deepen understanding of the relationship between forestry and conflict and post-conflict environments in the sub-region, identifying their role in perpetuating tensions vs. promoting a lasting peace in West Africa.  Identify recommendations to feed into the debate on regional, national, local institutional framework for managing forestry resources in support of current forestry programs in the sub-region  Stimulate regional debate and foster implementation of actions at the appropriate level.

ESSD Forests WA Regional Forum on Forests? (cont’d) Questions to consider?  Could a Forum add value to existing efforts at national and regional level on forest management issues?  What should be the road map for initiating such dialogue?  Who should lead/facilitate and finance?  What level in governments should be involved?  What roles might existing organizations play in promoting regional approaches (ECOWAS, UEMOA, Mano River Authority, ITTO, others)?  What would constitute success for such initiative?

ESSD Forests TRENDS IN INTENSIVELY MANAGED PLANTED FORESTS  Over next 25 years planted forests are projected to expand by 50%  Major Investments opportunities mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions  34% of which in Latin America East and Southern Africa 1.5 MM Industrial. and Farm Forest Ownership New Zealand 1.8 MM Industrial. Private Indonesia 9.9 MM Industrial. and Farm Forest Ownership Vietnam 1.7 MM Public and Farm Ownership China 45 MM Public. and Farm Forest Ownership Argentina 900,000 Industrial Private Uruguay 622,000 Industrial. Private Brazil 5 MM Industrial. and Farm Forest Ownership Chile 2 MM Industrial. Private

Pulp Paper and Panel Industries Farm Forest Wood Lots Plantation Based Construction Grade Timber & Fiber Supply Emerging Investment Opportunities Environmental Services Wood & NTFP Based Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

ESSD Forests Priority Areas of World Bank Group Investments  Involvement of communities in management of conservation and production forests  New markets for environmental services  Partnerships between forest companies, communities and private households  Networks of sustainably managed Production Forests  Transparency, equity, law enforcement and governance (FLEG)  Grant funding for protection of biodiversity, carbon sequestration through afforestation & avoided deforestation PRIORITIES FOR WORLD BANK INVESTMENT IN AFRICA REGION:

ESSD Forests In Summary  The Bank Forest Strategy focuses on poverty, economic growth, and environmental services  Priorities for Bank is sustainable concession management, transparency, and sustainability  We believe in regional partnerships, and wonder if there is ‘appetite’ for a Forest Forum for West Africa?