TNC & FSC Africa Seal Strategic Pact for Sustainable Forest Management
The Nature Conservancy [TNC] and Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] Africa have signed a strategic partnership to expand sustainable forest management and climate-focused conservation across the continent.
The agreement runs through 2030. It sets out plans to protect forests, cut emissions, restore degraded land and support rural livelihoods. The groups say Africa’s forests are under growing pressure from logging, farming and climate change. They argue that stronger alliances are needed to respond at scale.
Africa’s forests regulate rainfall, store carbon and support millions of people. They also hold some of the world’s richest biodiversity. Yet oversight gaps and limited financing continue to slow progress in many countries.
Focus on the Congo Basin
Initial work will centre on the Congo Basin, including Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The partners plan to work with governments, forest managers and local communities to strengthen monitoring systems and improve forest governance.
The partnership builds on joint efforts already under way in Gabon. There, the two organisations are helping to strengthen forest certification systems and carbon measurement frameworks, while expanding community forest management.
The move also aligns with broader African efforts to attract investment into forest protection and large-scale restoration.
Scaling Certification and Restoration
The agreement follows the launch of the Zámba Heritage Initiative roadmap. The plan targets 30 million hectares of certified sustainable forest management and the restoration of five million hectares of degraded land.
Ademola Ajagbe, TNC’s Africa regional managing director, said the climate and biodiversity crisis requires collective action. Dr Peter O. Alele, FSC Africa regional director, said the partnership blends conservation science with certification standards to deliver practical results.
Both organisations say success will depend on measurable outcomes. Their shared aim is to expand responsibly managed forests and strengthen the role of landscapes in Africa’s climate and development goals.
