This book takes us to the heart of the dense and Sahelian forest areas of Central Africa, a precious ecosystem that is essential to the daily lives of its inhabitants, representing one of the three main tropical forest areas on the planet.

This book takes us to the heart of the dense and Sahelian forest areas of Central Africa, a precious ecosystem that is essential to the daily lives of its inhabitants, representing one of the three main tropical forest areas on the planet. Ten countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Equatorial, Guinea Equatorial, Central African, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Chad) are home to these forests and savannas, rich in important natural resources. They have in common a long history linked to colonization, followed by an experience of multifaceted cooperation since independence that unquestionably evolves towards economic and monetary integration. Nowadays, while the age-old balances between man and nature seem to be shaken, when food security, the fight against poverty and the preservation of biodiversity and forest resources have become global challenges; at a time when uncontrolled population growth weakens the maintenance of forest ecosystems while accentuating conflicts related to the search for living space, the phenomenon of climate change comes to further probe the creative genius of forest populations in the preservation and sustainable management of forests and non-wood forest products (NTFPs) derived from them. This publication is the work of FAO technical staff, with the contribution of international and local partners involved in the evolution of NTFPs. It is a valuable document devoted to the development of peoples through the promotion of NTFPs in Central Africa in order to strengthen food security and fight poverty.

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