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Timber Trade and Poverty Alleviation in the Upper Great Lakes Region


A study into the timber trade in the Upper Great Lakes Region was undertaken as part of the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) programme on the trade in natural resources from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This programme is based on the premise that the country cannot derive value from its natural resources until they are sold in a regulated and transparent way.

There is a lucrative trade in timber in Eastern DRC and Southern Sudan, and there is a risk that the revenue from this is supporting or fuelling the region's conflict. The aim of the study was to assess what would be needed in order for the timber trade to improve governance within the region and to contribute more to poverty alleviation.

The work was undertaken by a consortium of organisations, led by Forests Monitor. Its members were Réseau CREF (working in DRC), Earthsight (in Uganda and Southern Sudan), and Green Solutions (in Uganda). Other members were the POLE Institute, INICA (the Initiative for Central Africa) and PACT. These organisations were studying mining in the region but they also shared information and their knowledge of the forest sector.

The study undertook a review of the current actors operating in the regional and international trade routes. It also analysed the trade from both an economic and political perspective, and sought to identify those points in the market chain where there are particular problems. Policy recommendations were made as to how the timber trade could make more of a contribution to sustainable development and to poverty alleviation.

The report is available in English or French, and can be downloaded here:

  • Timber Trade and Poverty Alleviation in the Upper Great Lakes Region
  • Commerce du bois et réduction de la pauvreté, Région des Grand Lacs

    • Further background information to this study can be found in the following briefing notes:

  • The Timber Sector in the DRC: a brief overview
  • Impacts of Charcoal and Fuel Wood Use in the Goma Region, North Kivu
  • Overview of Sub-regional Conflicts, Upper Great Lakes Region
  • Value Chain for DRC Mahogany sold in Kampala and in Nairobi
  • Notes on Sources and Method of Collection of Figures Presented in the Report

    • The full DFID report on the flow of natural resource flows in the DRC is also available to download:
  • Trading for Peace is available now in PDF format to download (2.63 MB).

    • This project was made possible with the support of the UK Department For International Development.





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      This page was last updated on the 2nd March 2009