In a major move for Africa’s green economy, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Africa have signed a strategic partnership to scale sustainable forest management and climate-focused conservation across the continent.
The agreement, which runs through 2030, aims to tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by merging TNC’s conservation science with FSC’s globally recognized certification standards.
The Zámba Heritage Blueprint
The partnership serves as the operational engine for the recently launched Zámba Heritage Initiative. This ambitious roadmap sets specific, measurable targets for the continent’s forest landscapes:
- Sustainable Management: Bringing 30 million hectares of African forests under certified sustainable management.
- Land Restoration: Restoring 5 million hectares of degraded land.
- Geographic Focus: Initial priority is the Congo Basin (Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo).
Why Science Meets Certification
The collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between field research and market-based accountability. By combining their expertise, the organizations hope to create a “tangible value proposition” for African forests.
| Organization | Core Contribution | Strategic Role |
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | Conservation science, field experience, carbon measurement. | Strengthening oversight and governance frameworks. |
| FSC Africa | Robust certification standards, community-centered approaches. | Ensuring market-ready, responsible forest products and compliance. |
Building on the Gabon Model
The partnership isn’t starting from scratch; it builds on successful groundwork in Gabon, where both groups have been assisting the government in operationalizing national forest certification and carbon compliance.
Ademola Ajagbe, regional managing director for TNC Africa, emphasized that the scale of Africa’s biodiversity challenge is too vast for siloed efforts.
“By working together, we can expand our collective impact… at the scale required to deliver lasting results,” he noted.
Dr. Peter O. Alele, FSC Africa Regional Director, added that the alliance is critical for the success of the Zámba Heritage Initiative.
“Together, we are creating a tangible value proposition for Africa’s forests, ensuring we meet our goal while delivering meaningful benefits for climate, nature, and local communities.”
Analysis: This partnership signals a shift toward the commoditization of conservation.
By aiming for 30 million hectares of certified forests, TNC and FSC are preparing Africa to tap into the global voluntary carbon market and ESG-driven investments.
For the Congo Basin, this could translate into significant green foreign direct investment (FDI), provided the certification processes remain transparent and community-inclusive.
