TOWARDS SELF REGULATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Edward Ayeni writes on the pressing need to develop the framework for a sustainable charcoal export sector

The current practice of businesses engaging in the export of charcoal without concrete and verifiable efforts at investing in the sustainability of their supply chain, the environment and the community where they operate should be discouraged. As stakeholders, it is our duty to set a timeframe to regularise our operations and processes in line with global best practices.

Governments at all levels should resist the allure of banning the production or exportation of charcoal, and instead conduct a thorough review of The Forest (Charcoal) Regulations, taking into consideration the huge investments of businesses in forest leases, reforestation, construction of modern kilns and capacity building of local communities in agroforestry. A cue can be taken from the activities of the Kenya Forestry Service, which introduced practical new laws to legalise sustainable charcoal production to help save forests and also promote trade.

As the EU beams the spotlight on charcoal imports from Africa, particularly Nigeria, that do not comply with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), it is time for all stakeholders in the charcoal export sector to set self-regulatory systems in place in line with international market standards.

Every country that wants to prove to the international community that its forest products are sourced in a sustainable and responsible manner need to be aligned with the world’s foremost forest products certification bodies namely Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). These international certification organisations utilise the services of professional forest auditors to set standards of sustainable forest management. Major buyers of Nigerian charcoal from the EU have set a timeframe for importers to comply with FSC or PEFC standard of sustainability in order to continue to enjoy their patronage.

To access their certification services, auditors are invited from Ghana and Cameroon who have national standards and trained auditors. This brings to the fore the need to build capacity in the areas of forest products legality and chain of custody auditing in our own country. The closest attempt to have Nigerian trained auditors was done by Nigeria Conservation Foundation but was unfortunately stalled by funding constraints.

Presently, Nigeria does not have a FSC or PEFC national standard body; neither do we have trained auditors. For a Nigerian company/product to be certified, each business will have to fly in auditors from either Cameroon or Ghana, which is another drain on our scarce foreign exchange.

The time has come for the establishment of a forest products standard body for Nigeria, to be comprised of environmentalists, the government and businesses that will entrench an environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and economically viable sector.

Consider this a rallying call for institutions like the Federal Ministry of Environment - Forestry Research Institute, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, private forest owners, farmers associations, professional foresters, forest product processors, exporters of forest products to come together to form a national body that will drive the sustainable forest management of our great nation. We should also work to get support from the German International Development Cooperation - GIZ who have done a lot in the areas of value chain analysis of the wood energy sector and sustainable modern wood energy development in sub Saharan Africa.

Together we can ensure that our industry continues to thrive in a manner that protects our environment, contributes positively to the economy and positions Nigeria charcoal exports as abiding by government guidelines and meeting international standards.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOREST PRODUCTS STANDARD BODY FOR NIGERIA, TO BE COMPRISED OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS, THE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES THAT WILL ENTRENCH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE SECTOR