(i) African Regional Forum on Promoting Wood-based Bio-energy using wood residues and wastes (held in Cameroon in September 2008)

For African region, the regional forum was organized in Douala, Cameroon, from 3 to 5 September 2008, and it was attended by 50 participants to share experience from 12 countries (Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Togo). The main conclusions of the regional forum were related to following issues: assessment of wood-residues as potential source of energy; policies and strategies in relation to constraints and risks linked to wood-based energy; new technology for wood-based energy generation; and regional cooperation for the dissemination and sharing of technical and financial information and data on wood-based energy among African member countries of ITTO.

(ii) National Forum to Strengthen Policies and Opportunities for Forest Investment

The forum, which took place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 17 to 19 February 2009, was attended by 98 participants from different economic sectors, including bank sector. The main outcome of the forum was the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Investment in the Forestry Sector which was validated by the forum and adopted by the Government of the Republic of Congo. The final report on this issue is available at the ITTO Secretariat upon request (e-mail: itto@itto.int).