Artisanal chainsaw milling to support decentralized management of timber in Central Africa? An analysis through the theory of access

During the last decade, in Central Africa, timber volume of the artisanal chainsaw milling (CSM) sector, mainly for domestic markets, has exceeded that processed by the export-oriented industrial sector. However, due to lack of legal alternatives, CSM is largely an informal activity. We rely on the theory of access to understand the mechanisms of access to timber resources, and to the income derived from their use, implemented by local actors to participate in the growth of this informal sector. Among eight common access mechanisms, two have played a particularly important role in the development of CSM for the benefit of rural economies. On the one hand, the growth of CSM was built on the customary tenure system, by valuing traditional knowledge and abiding by the traditional rules of access to trees. On the other hand, domestic timber markets remained accessible to independent operators in Cameroon, in Central African Republic and in Gabon, but the situation is less true in Republic of Congo and in Democratic Republic of Congo.