A survey of 10.000 east and west African wood processing micro-businesses found that sourcing legal materials and legal compliance to be key difficulties in maintaining environmentally-ethical and legal business practices.

The micro-businesses, connected and represented by a network of 21 wood industry associations, found a widespread need for more support and access to resources.

The two reports from the survey results were released on Oct. 22 by the Global Timber Forum, a Washington, DC non-profit that works to build the capacity of forest and wood-based industry associations.

The findings were released just ahead of Forest Legality Week, an annual gathering that draws together global forestry leaders and experts in Washington, D.C.


Wood processing micro-businesses in several east, central and west African countries say they have a widespread need for more support and access to resources. Their rallying call for help is reflected in the results of a survey run by the Global Timber Forum (GTF), a London-based non-profit that works to build the capacity of forest and wood-based industry associations for responsible trade. Information gathered through 21 wood-industry associations with a total membership of nearly 10,000 micro-businesses in several African countries led to two reports.

The reports focus on the relationship between micro-businesses and business associations in Cameroon, Cote d`Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia and Mozambique. The findings come just ahead of the second annual Forest Legality Week in Washington, D.C., where experts from around the world will discuss a variety of forestry-related sustainability issues.


Source: https://news.mongabay.com