Free, Prior and Informed Consent and Sustainable Forest Management in the Congo Basin

This report contributes to the debate over FPIC as a mechanism for strengthening the rights of indigenous and local populations, as well as a tool for more sustainable forest management. It incorporates field research from 5 different European forestry companies operating 7 concessions in 3 West African countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Gabon). Using Principles 2 and 3 of the Forest Stewardship Council as a working definition of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and based on its research findings, the report raises 7 critical issues to address in developing an FPIC process (consent, institutional capacity building, information and communication, participation and negotiation, resource access and livelihoods, forest management partnerships, and transparency). The report gives examples of how each of these issues were raised in its research and makes recommendations toward the development of best practices, concluding with a recommended 12-step process for successful FPIC.