What is the African Forest Forum?

The African Forestry Forum (AFF) is an association of individuals who share the quest for and commitment to the sustainable management, use and conservation of the forest and tree resources of Africa for socio-economic wellbeing of its peoples and for the stability and improvement of its environment.

Why the Forum?

The purpose of the Forum is to provide a platform and create an enabling environment for independent and objective analysis, advocacy and advice on relevant policy and technical issues pertaining to achieving sustainable management, use and conservation of Africa’s forest and tree resources as part of efforts to reduce poverty and  promote  economic and social development.

What is its goal?

The goal of the Forum is to galvanise the African voice and opinion, and mobilise resources on forestry and related issues that cut across countries and regions with a view of enhancing the relevance and contribution of forestry to the people of Africa and their environment.

How will it achieve its goal?

The Forum will facilitate:
1. Networking among the many and varied stakeholders in forestry in Africa.
2. Development of specific programmes, projects and activities that address priority issues and opportunities and facilitate their funding.
3. Advocacy activities that have a potential to raise the profile of forestry, highlight threats to forest resources and the environment, and champion better management of African forests.

For whom is the Forum?

The potential beneficiaries of the activities of the Forum are national, regional and international policy- and decision-makers, farmers and rural communities, the private industry and trade sector, the research and education community, consumers of forest/tree-derived products, government institutions, NGOs with forest, environment, social and other foci of work, individuals, and others.

Who are members of the Forum?

The members of the AFF are individuals with a commitment to the purpose and goal of the Forum.  The Forum also has observers from key organisations.

How will the Forum work?

The Forum works through its members and Secretariat. Networking through electronic media is  the main mechanism for exchanging information, ideas and views. The Members Forum, the Governing Council, the Executive Committee, and the Secretariat are the key organs of the Forum. The Forum is organised into five sub-regions and chapters. It  has regular mechanisms for information exchange, decision-making and interactions. The Governing Council  holds electronic and virtual meetings as the situation and agenda may require.

What will the Forum do?

The Forum will, among other activities, :
1. Constitute permanent and ad hoc task forces, think tanks and committees from among its membership to analyse and give advice on specific issues, problems and potentials.
2. Commission experts and institutions to carry out studies and research tasks to generate knowledge in general or for specific institutions and organizations on request.
3. Organise workshops, seminars and conferences as and when appropriate.
4. Be represented at relevant international and regional meetings on forests.
5. Initiate and implement pilot projects, normally in collaboration with African and/or other partner institutions.
6. Issue reports, publications and other relevant material emanating from its work.
7. Provide a systematic information base on forests and trees in Africa, and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for developments relevant to these resources.

Partners of the Forum

The Forum works with a variety of partnerships, formal and informal, within and outside the continent, and with forestry and non-forestry bodies including

• African Development Bank (ADB),
• Food and Agriculture Organisation of  the United Nations (FAO), 
• African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC), 
• African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), 
• United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF),  
• African Union (AU), 
• New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)-Eastern Africa Regional Office, 
• Forest Stewardship Council-African Regional Office, 
• Commision des Forêts d’ Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC), 
• African forestry research, education and development institutions and networks
• The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA)
  

The Founder Members established the Forum on January 26, 2007. On December 06, 2007, the Kenyan Non-Governmental Organizations Registration Board approved registration of AFF as a not-for-profit international NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya.

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