China’s Investment, Africa’s Forest

Chinese investments in African land use are growing fast. From small enterprises in forestry, agribusiness and mining, through huge infrastructure cooperation projects and contracts won by Chinese companies – in hydropower, port development, road and railway building – that gobble up forest and woodland. These developments can bring huge benefits to African economies and huge challenges to sustainability. One thing is for sure – they are changing Africa. But real understanding in both China and Africa, about what is really going on, is often weak - and those who can best help chart a sustainable course for these Chinese investments have been poorly linked. In 2013, IIED with partners launched the China-Africa Forest Governance Platform to tackle key problems in the illegal timber trade and seize opportunities for more sustainable Chinese investment in land-use sectors. The platform is a forum for projects aiming to generate evidence, strengthen capacity and dialogue, and improve policy and investment practice by Chinese companies in African forest land use. This 10-minute film tells the story so far. More details: https://www.iied.org/finding-green-pa...