You are here

Home > Publications > A First Look at Logging in Gabon

A First Look at Logging in Gabon

by Susan Minnemeyer, Jean-Gael Collomb, Jean-Bruno Mikissa,   Stéphane Mundunga, Honoré Nzao Nzao, Jean Madouma, Jean de Dieu Mapaga, Christian Mikolo, Nicaise Rabenkogo, Serge Akagah, Emmanuel Bayani-Ngoye and Aurelien Mofouma - February 2000

Provides an overview of logging activities within Gabon's forests and summarizes Gabon's forestry law and tax system.

Download the Publication

If you’d rather download the publication directly, click here.

Key Findings

  • Gabon's forests are rapidly being developed by the logging industry.
  • Gabon's forest industry may be vulnerable to market swings because of a lack of diversification.
  • Current laws designed to manage and protect forests in Gabon have been poorly applied and enforced.
  • The proposed reform of Gabon's forestry policy provides an opportunity to help rectify these problems by setting new standards for better natural resources management.

Executive Summary

Central Africa's forests have a long history of human use. Large-scale commercial logging, however, is a recent phenomenon.

This report addresses the following questions:

  • How much forest has been logged and at what rate?
  • What are the economic benefits of this activity and who are the beneficiaries?
  • Is the market sufficiently diverse to weather fluctuations?
  • What are the forest regulations and laws, and is the Gabonese government able to enforce them?
  • What efforts are underway to promote longer term management of natural resources?

Stay Connected

Donate to WRI