The Congo basin is estimated to include 530 million hectares of land and 200-300 million in forest/woodland
with an area that is approximately 1,232,000 m2, more than 45% of the African equatorial forest and 6% of
the world tropical reserves. Congolese forest contains more or less 1,000 species of trees. The uniqueness of
the Congo is its 11,000 different species of plants often referred as medicinal along with rainforest vegetation that has most dense parts receiving only 1% of the sunlight reaching the ground. DRC investment projects is to plant 3 million hectares (ha) of forest up to 2025.
Unique to the DRC
Lianas, which look a lot like vines that grow up to three thousand feet long (914 meters).
Teak trees are common in the rainforest of the Congo and grow up to 50 meters (154 feet) high.
Potentials
Production potential: 10,000.000 m3 of wood per year.
Forest area: 150 million ha.
Forest conceded area: 11 million ha.
The enactment of a new forestry code in 2002. Withdrawal of the moratorium.
Fight against the illegal use and unlawful business of wood.
Continuation of the forest laying out process in order to guarantee a national and sustainable management.
Investment in agro forestry;
Development of production industries for paper pasta;
Industrial transformation of wood: sawing, cutting, plywood, beam and rafters;
Production of wooden poles for electric lines;
Production and transportation of logs;
16 plots of land available returned by their former owners to the government after the conversion process.
Identification of the concession to be exploited by the investor;
Submission of the application of logging permit by investor and his requirements to the Provincial Coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism.
Requirements should include the following:
Identity of the applicant (investor);
Logging location;
Requested area;
Sketch at 1/20,000 and / or 1/200,000 (territory map) List species + corresponding volumes;
List of equipment;
Quarterly statement for former farmers;
If the file is conform, the Provincial Coordination gives a favorable opinion and forwards the file to the Ministry of Environment;
Transmission by the Ministry of the file for processing to the Forest Management Department (DGF);
Analysis and opinion of the Forest Management Department;
Establishing in the event of a favorable opinion by the DGF of the liquidation notes with copy of the application and transmission to FFN (National Forestry Fund);
Establishment of the debit note by the National Forestry Fund to the para-fiscal administration (DGRAD);
Establishment of the collection notes by DGRAD;
Payment of duties and taxes by the investor and presentation and proof of payment to the DGF;
Establishment of projects of logging Permit by DGF and its transmission to the Minister for signature (with proof of payment).
N.B: Establishing a moratorium The Congolese Government has suspended the issuance of new permits to investors since 2006 easing the conversion of old securities (supplying guarantees) with new (forest concessions). At the end of the moratorium, the granting of forestry concessions will be done from then by adjudication (tenders).
Kambala
Equateur (Businga, Gbadolite, Bikoro, Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga, Lukolela, Monkoto, Bumba);
Eastern Province (Bafwasende Isangi and Opala, Ubundu, Yahuma, Banalia, Basoko, etc.);
Maniema (Kibombo); Bandundu (Bolobo, Oshwe, etc.);
Ebony Equateur (Businga, Gbadolite, Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga, Bumba);
Eastern Province (Bafwasende Isangi and Banalia, Basoko, Ubundu, etc.);
Bandundu (Bolobo and Oshwe). Sipo Equateur (Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga, etc.);
Eastern Province (Aketi, Basoko).
African Mahogany
Equateur (Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga, etc.);
Eastern Province (Aketi, Basoko).
Wenge
Equateur (Bikoro and Lukolela);
Eastern Province (Opala);
Bandundu (Bolobo, Mushie, Inongo and Oshwe).
Afromosia
Equateur (Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga);
Eastern Province (Bafuasende, and Ubundu Isangi).
Limba
Equateur (Lukolela);
Bandundu (Bolobo).
Bomanga
Western Kasai (Mweka and Demba);
Eastern Province (Isangi and Opala, and Ubundu Basoko);
Bandundu (Bolobo, Mushie, Inongo and Oshwe);
Equateur (Bikoro and Lukolela).
Limbali
Equateur (Businga, Gbadolite, Bikoro, Lisala, Djolu, Bongandanga, Lukolela, Monkoto, Bumba, etc.);
Eastern Province (Bafuasende, Ubundu Isangi, Banalia, Aketi, Basoko);
Western Kasai (Mweka and Ilebo);
Maniema (Kibombo and Lubutu);
Bandundu (Mushie, Bolobo and Oshwe).
Legal framework of the sector
Law on Forestry (Law Nr. 011/2002 of 29 August 2002 and Decree Nr. 05/116 of 24 October 2005)
This law defines the exploitation of forest resources throughout the country. It promotes the rational and sustainable management of natural forest resources to increase their contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of present generations, while preserving the forest ecosystems and biodiversity for future generations.