Seeing the Wood for the Trees: Forestry Governance in the DRC

This research report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines forestry governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the transition from hierarchical to network governance. It analyzes national policy, the impact of forest title conversions, and provides a detailed case study of tripartite governance structures in Bikoro Territory, Equateur Province, implemented by the IUCN.

• The DRC's logging industry has become highly concentrated following the forest title conversion process conducted by the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Conversion of Old Forest Titles (CIM) between 2006 and 2008. The Nord-Sud Timber (NST) Group's share of concessions increased from 24% to 57%, while SIFORCO's share rose from 6% to 14%.
• The 2002 Forest Code established a broad vision for the sector based on three axes: regulated industrial exploitation, decentralization and community involvement, and the safeguarding of biodiversity and environmental services. However, the Code and subsequent decrees are criticized for being skewed toward the regulation of industrial logging.
• National-level coordination in the forestry sector has been relatively successful due to strong leadership from the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism (MENCT) and engagement with development partners through the thematic group GT13. However, intersectoral coordination with other ministries (such as mining, agriculture, and transport) remains problematic.
• In Bikoro Territory, the IUCN's 'Strengthening Voices for Better Choices' (SVBC) project implemented tripartite governance structures, including village-level Committees for Dialogue and Vigilance (CDVs) and a territorial Consultative Council. These structures facilitate dialogue between the administration, private sector, and civil society to resolve conflicts and manage corporate social responsibility (cahiers de charges).
• Logging companies in Bikoro face severe operational challenges, including a near total lack of public infrastructure (roads, electricity, and telecommunications) and a heavy tax burden, with the Industrial Forestry Federation (FIB) listing approximately 172 different taxes.
• Poverty is the primary driver of unsustainable forest practices in Bikoro, specifically charcoal production. Charcoal is one of the few viable income-generating alternatives for local communities, with traders earning significantly more than secondary school teachers.
• The global financial crisis of 2008/09 severely impacted the DRC logging sector, leading to a drop in international orders and a halt in new investments. SODEFOR reported being unable to sell approximately 15,000m³ of logs and processed timber.
• Local government capacity in Bikoro is extremely weak; the supervisor of lakes and forests lacks basic equipment like vehicles and boats, often relying on logging companies for transport to conduct inspections.

APA

du Preez, M.-L., & Sturman, K. (2009). Seeing the Wood for the Trees: Forestry Governance in the DRC. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Research-Report-4.pdf

Chicago

du Preez, Mari-Lise, and Kathryn Sturman. Seeing the Wood for the Trees: Forestry Governance in the DRC. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Research-Report-4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=du Preez |first1=Mari-Lise |last2=Sturman |first2=Kathryn |title=Seeing the Wood for the Trees: Forestry Governance in the DRC |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Research-Report-4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dupreez2009seeing, author = {du Preez, Mari-Lise and Sturman, Kathryn}, title = {{Seeing the Wood for the Trees: Forestry Governance in the DRC}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Research-Report-4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }