06.09.2025
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Jean-Jacques Faure, which occurred on July 28, 2025 at the age of 88.
A committed forester, passionate educator, and renowned expert, Jean-Jacques has left his mark on French and African forestry. An agricultural engineer (INA 1956) and then a Water and Forestry Engineer (1960), he initially devoted his career to public forest management and the training of forestry engineers in Nancy. In the 1970s, he turned to international cooperation and taught forestry at the University of Dschang in Cameroon, sharing his belief in the rational and sustainable management of natural resources.
A pioneer in forest management in Central Africa, he helped define the regional model in the early 1990s and was one of the designers of the Dimako pilot project, contributing to the first management plans in Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Convinced that success could only be achieved with the support of forestry operators, he tirelessly advocated for a partnership approach. After a stint at the French Ministry of Cooperation, he continued his commitment as an international consultant, notably supporting the Forêt Ressources Management (FRM) adventure from its inception. A visionary, he took part in the first plantation projects on the Batéké plateaus in the DRC and Congo. His work, his publications—including his book on the rainforest trees of Central Africa—and the inspiration passed on to many generations of foresters constitute a major legacy.
A humble, accessible, and deeply curious man, Jean-Jacques leaves behind the memory of a caring colleague and a passionate expert who successfully combined public action, international cooperation, teaching, and support for the private sector, always guided by the public interest and a love of forests.
ATIBT shares the grief of his family, loved ones, and colleagues, and pays tribute to a figure who profoundly influenced French-speaking tropical forestry.
