Aims of the event

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Introduction 

The main objective of the Citizen Voices for Change project is to strengthen the contribution of non-state actors (civil society, indigenous peoples & community organisations) to improve forest governance, sustainable forest management and the contribution of forest to development in the Congo Basin. The project is implemented by the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT), University of Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) and a number of international, regional and national partners¹. The project is funded by the European Union.

This conference is the first of its kind bringing together law enforcement authorities and non-state actors in the Congo Basin. The conference will run from the 14th – 16th November, 2017 at the Interpol Regional Office for Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The conference will be implemented as part of the Interpol Regional Office for Central Africa’s annual activities.

Rationale and Aim

An empowered civil society, including indigenous peoples and local communities, with the capacity to access and analyse information, to monitor forest governance including forest land use policies, to advocate and to hold governments accountable are key to improve forest and land governance. It is central to the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) processes. As forest and land use policies are susceptible to corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability linked to FLEGT and REDD+ implementation is key to the credibility and viability of both processes. As both REDD+ and FLEGT implementation makes progress on the ground there is an increasing acknowledgement of the need for open, transparent systems and processes and the ability of civil society and stakeholders (including e.g. right holders, farmers, the private sector and academics) to effectively engage in these processes. The conference seeks to contribute towards the achievement of these processes.

The aim is therefore to bring together law enforcement authorities and civil society so that they can share information on their different roles, explore mechanisms for exchange of information and build mutual collaboration and trust in their efforts to improve forest governance and fight against illegal logging and trade.

Opening/Closing Ceremonies
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First session: Update on the VPA
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Second session: The State of law enforcement, forest trade and forest crimes in the Congo Basin – an introduction to the law enforcement agencies in the region
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Third session: Civil society led forest monitoring in the Congo Basin- contributions to law enforcement – forest monitoring tools and methodologies
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Fourth session: Transparency and corruption in the natural resources sector in the Congo Basin – lessons learned from other illegal industries and activities concerning wildlife, fauna, drugs and human trafficking
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Fifth session: Looking beyond forest concessions
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Sixth session: Forest Control inspection and enforcement- who does what and how
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Seventh session: Facilitated Session on Establishment of a forest law enforcement working group in the Congo Basin
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Eighth session: Bilateral meetings between law enforcement and civil society – Concrete plans for collaboration

Ninth session: Presentation of action points defined during bilateral meetings
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