A podcast not to be missed: Rainforests, African realities

Logs, wood products, charcoal, pulp, and paper: wood is omnipresent in our daily lives. It is used for construction, furniture, heating, and more. It also supports entire value chains, including forest concessions, sawmills, processing plants, and paper industries.

However, forestry does not necessarily mean deforestation. This podcast debunks this misconception by explaining how sustainable forest management is not only possible but essential.

Contents:

The European Union's zero deforestation regulation (EUDR), its impact and its limitations in Africa;
The dominant role of Asia, which accounts for up to 70% of African log exports;
A focus on Central Africa, where the Congo Basin, the world's second largest green lung, is home to pioneering efforts (particularly in Gabon and Congo Brazzaville) ;
An analysis of West African forests, which are often undervalued;
The special case of South Africa, where plantations (pine, eucalyptus) and a strong paper industry predominate;
And finally, Namibia, which is facing an invasion of scrubland and has become Africa's leading exporter of charcoal to Europe.

This podcast deciphers the complex and sometimes little-known realities of the African timber industry. It sheds light on the major economic, environmental, and geopolitical issues related to logging on the continent.

Good listening to everyone from ATIBT!

This episode is available for free on many platforms: