Printable version Email this to a friend
Timber production in West and Central Africa - Wildlife Wood Project (WWP)
The Wildlife Wood Project (WWP) builds on ZSL bushmeat research and policy work, but shifts the focus more fully onto timber production in West and Central Africa.
The timber industry has a vital role to play. National parks alone cannot ensure the long-term conservation of many endangered species and therefore sustainable forest management needs to take account of all forest resources, including wildlife, to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives.
The key issue of this project is to ensure that forest reserves set aside for timber production are managed to optimise survival of wildlife populations, and this needs research to show which animals can and cannot be expected to remain in forests after logging.
The aim is to determine criteria and indicators that can be used in existing timber certification procedures, thereby allowing timber traders and buyers to know that their purchase has supported a forest company which takes account of wildlife management needs.
ZSL works with timber companies to look at cost-effective ways of improving forest management practices, which are affordable and supported by government and local communities.
The project focuses on Ghana and operates in collaboration with timber companies, government departments, conservation organisations, and universities.
