Environmental Policy
The Centre for Africa's Forests Research, Engagement and Collaboration (CAFOREC) is committed to minimising impact on the environment, and where possible, to identify and maximise opportunities to maintain, improve and manage the environment, through both its research work on the African forests and its sustainable community development work that engages and encourages forest communities to sustainably manage forest resources while enhancing their livelihoods.
As a non-profit research centre focusing on the African forest and its people, we believe that scientific research into areas such as biodiversity, climate change, nature-based solutions, agroforestry, land and forest management etc, can enhance sustainable community development, thereby achieving the goal for the 2030 Agenda for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. Also, we believe in delivering positive outcomes for people, nature and climate by empowering communities through community engagement and collaboration to promote sustainable resource management in their communities.
Our commitment
We are committed to supporting Indigenous people and local communities (IP&LC), including other actors/stakeholders implement good environmental practices in the African forest sector. This will be done by supporting them in practices such as;
Forest management and forest governance that takes into consideration the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the management/governance processes.
Maintaining and avoiding forest biodiversity loss through proper management, use and implementation.
Supporting the implementation of commitments to eliminate deforestation and forest habitat loss with locally adapted tools that promote conservation and forest sustainability.
Minimising any negative impact on the well-being of Indigenous people and local communities, biodiversity, land and water resources.
Working with logging companies and other extractive actors to manage and reduce deforestation and biodiversity loss whilst building resilience to climate change through research and local community engagement.
Working with different governments and civil society organisations to use and implement the right tools and framework for sustainable forest management.
These commitments will be achieved by incorporating our best practices and ethical research in all of the work we do, including regular evaluation on impact and progress in the different forest communities.
As a research centre with social commitments, we will continuously identify both ethical and environmental risks of our research and field operations, defining clear activities to minimise any negative impact to the environment and its local communities.
We would update and maintain regular environmental policy, guidance, review and training. This includes monitoring progress reviews, performance reviews as well as implementation and staff training reviews. This is achieved through the following:
Energy use:
We aim to minimise our energy use, avoiding wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption. This means the active reduction of energy use in offices by making sure that all unused electric equipments and lights are switched off.
We promote energy efficiency and this is encouraged in all purchases of equipment using electricity, including opting (where possible) for the purchase of electricity from renewable energy providers.
Water:
Clean water is important and therefore, we encourage the use of low pollution cleaning products or products that are eco-friendly. This reduces water pollution in our offices and centre.
Travel:
As a non-profit organisation, the research centre seeks to arrange and organise staff travel in such a way to minimise international regular travel (unless necessary). With domestic travel, we encourage greener alternatives with less or zero carbon emissions.
In regions where there are good train transport networks, we encourage travel by train rather than domestic flights, even when this is expensive to cut down our carbon emissions.
We encourage and promote staff and visitors to use public transport, bicycles or walk (short distance) to the office. This reduces traffic congestion, thereby reducing pollution for the well-being of all.
Sourcing and procurement:
We work with and promote suppliers who actively seek to minimise environmental impacts and have no problem complying with the national or international sustainability standards.
We also encourage the use of products with minimum environmental impacts in their production and harvesting, especially with suppliers that support the sustainable use of natural resources, including locally sourced food and timber products that are certified to the standards of credible schemes such as the FSC.
Office and the Centre's Operation:
We aim to reduce consumption in our daily operations at the research centre by minimising waste, reducing electricity consumption and using recycled products.
We will monitor and carry out regular reviews of product use in our offices, particularly the use of paper and plastic. Recycling office equipment and materials such as cans, plastics, glass, cardboard and waste papers or cartidges from printers wherever possible is a necessity in our research centre. On the other hand, where possible, non-recyclable products or materials will be disposed of appropriately.