Central African Republic
General
UNPP World Population Prospect (Review 2008) estimates a population of 4,101 million inhabitants in the Central African Republic, with a low population density of 7 inhabitants per km2. Forests cover around 45% of the national territory whereas 15% of the territory are covered by closed forest. Only one part of this closed forest is officially assigned for industrial timber exploitation, namely the South-west forest area.
Central African Republic’s legal framework for forest and wildlife related activities, originating in the 1990, was reviewed and thoroughly changed and resulted in 2008 in the Law 08.022. The new forest code, in contrary to the former legal setting, envisage the creation of communal and community forests.
The following NWFP are i.a. of importance in the Central African Republic: rattan, different leaves e.g. Gnetum spp. (koko) or from maranthaceae, spices as Pipper guinesse, yams, palm oil, mushrooms and wild fruits as well as honey, wax and shea butter in the North of the country.
Sources : Les Forêts du Bassin du Congo – Etat des Forêts 2008. Eds : de Wasseige C., Devers D., de Marcken P., Eba'a Atyi R., Nasi R. et Mayaux Ph., 426 pages, ISBN 978-92-79-132 11-7, doi: 10.2788 /32456, Office des publications de l'Union Européenne, 2009.
Données statistiques sur les Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux en République Centrafricaine. Projet GCP/INT/679/EC, FAO, 1999.
Geographie
The map shows the forest cover in the Central African Republic. More in-depth information can be found on the FAO country profile site (http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/default.asp?lang=en) and the forest country profile site of FAO’s Forestry Department (http://www.fao.org/forestry/country/en/). The above cited “The forests in the Congo Basin - State of the Forests 2008” provides a comprehensive overview on the Congolese forest sector and can be found online under http://www.observatoire-comifac.net/edf2008.php.
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The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Map source: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000, base map: ESRI
The above map is an extract from the Global Forest Cover map produced as part of FRA 2000. Please refer to FRA Working Paper 19 for a background to the production of the map.