ATIBT Support of a project in favour of sustainable tropical timber trade

10.10.2025

ATIBT is pleased to announce the signing of a grant agreement for the Tropical Timber Trade Facility (TTT) project, an ambitious program funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, in partnership with COMIFAC and its member States (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo).

A project at the service of traceability and sustainability

The main objective of TTT is to reduce illegal deforestation in the Congo Basin by promoting a legal and sustainable trade in tropical timber and timber products. The project covers the supply chain from Central Africa to China and international markets.

With a duration of almost 4 years (8/2023-3/2027), the project is based on four essential pillars:

Strengthen dialogue between public institutions and companies.
Strengthen national traceability systems and support private certification.
Improving market access for legal and sustainable timber from Central Africa
Developing the capacities of actors at all levels, from administrations to companies.

The role of ATIBT

As an implementing partner, ATIBT is involved in several strategic aspects of the project:

Promote dialogue and cooperation between African, Chinese and European federations, including through a federation commission.
Analyze traceability systems, to make supply chains more transparent and reliable.
Support for companies towards certification and compliance with environmental and social standards (FSC, PEFC, etc.).
Capacity building for public authorities and operators, in particular through support for training centres
Promoting sustainable tropical timber in international markets through the Fair&Precious brand

A perspective for markets and forests

The TTT project responds to a double challenge: to protect one of the largest tropical forests in the world, the Congo Basin, which is essential for the climate and biodiversity, and to ensure fair trade outlets for tropical timber, while respecting local populations and ecosystems.

ATIBT is proud to contribute to this structuring project, which represents a major opportunity to reconcile international trade, good forest governance and sustainability.