Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) which produces, processes and exports African wood species, has announced it is to work with the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

A subsidiary of the tt Timber Group, CIB said it is committed to working towards the “highest standards of environmental and social performance” in its 1.3 million ha forest concession in the heart of the Congo Basin.

TFT executive director Scott Poynton said: “This should be a great example to promote responsible forestry in the region, and provides a real opportunity for European markets to buy responsibly produced African hardwoods as CIB’s concessions could become the first FSC-certified natural forests in tropical Africa.”