Timber enterprises operating in Africa and Chinese tropical timber importers are cordially invited to Gabon and Cameroon, to discuss legal and compliant operations and sustainable trade.

The Congo Basin hosts one of the world’s most important tropical rainforest biomes and serves as a primary sourcing region for tropical timber imported into China. Many forestry enterprises have maintained long-term operations here and made positive contributions to local socio-economic development. Nevertheless, illegal logging and forest degradation, together with increasingly stringent international compliance requirements for supply chains, present substantial challenges to the sustainable operations of timber businesses.

To strengthen African forestry enterprises’ capacity in compliance management and traceability from production to market, build a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform, and advance legal and sustainable timber trade between China and Africa, the China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) and Union Forestière des Industries Asiatiques au Gabon (UFIAG) will host the China-Africa Sustainable Timber Trade Forum and Legality Capacity-Building Training Seminar in Libreville, Gabon, from 8 to 10 December 2026. Timber enterprises funded by Chinese capital and local timber companies in the Congo Basin, as well as Chinese tropical timber importers, are warmly invited to attend.

 1.Organisations

 · Organisers:

China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA)

Union Forestière des Industries Asiatiques au Gabon (UFIAG)

 · Co-organisers:

China-UK Cooperation on International Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme (FGMC China)

Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Tropical Timber Trade project (TTT)

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

 · Supporting Organisations:

Proforest

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC)

Union des Forestiers et Industriels du Bois du Gabon (UFIGA)

Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT)

 2. Event Information

· Date: 8–10 December 2026

· Venues: Libreville (Gabon), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Douala (Cameroon)

· Languages: French, Chinese (simultaneous interpretation provided)

 3. Target Participants

·Representatives from relevant government authorities in timber-producing countries

·Representatives of local communities, civil society organisations, and international organisations

·Representatives of Chinese-invested and local timber enterprises in the Congo Basin (Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo)

·Representatives of Chinese tropical timber importing enterprises

 4. Programme

·8 December: Multi Stakeholder Forum will feature keynote speeches and panel discussions on the subjects of sustainable timber trade and supply chain compliance. China Africa Sustainable Timber Trade Taskforce is set to be officially launched.

·9 December: Training: Enterprise Compliance Capacity Building --- Classroom training sessions will be delivered to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to understand host country laws and regulations, international regulatory requirements and forest management compliance standards.

·10 December: Field Study Visit --- On-site practical training and demonstrations at sawmills within the Nkok Special Economic Zone (limited to 20 participants).

 Enterprises interested in participation may contact the Secretariat for enquiries:

 Ma Siran: +86 18810966598

 Zhao Lantu: +86 13671117212

 Han Jinghua: +86 15584633095

 Email: int@cnwood.org