Feasibility study of community forests in Gabon

The first observation to emerge from the field mission carried out in five provinces of Gabon is the initial absence of a local management method corresponding to the concept of 'community forest'. This leads to the assertion that the concept is exogenous and that its applicability requires a series of preliminary tests before it can be used on a widespread basis in Gabon. An examination of village management methods for forest areas and resources in extenso does indeed make it possible to identify formulas for partnership and village management that could be used in the implementation of local management that could meet the concept and objectives of community forestry in certain respects. However, there are many traditional management methods, and no single model. This means that the development of community forestry type management cannot be envisaged in Gabon in the form of a single standard model applicable to the entire territory: consequently, the development and adoption of a regulatory framework will have to be carried out a posteriori, since the different management methods.