ASP Cameroon Lesser Known Timber Species

26 mei 2025

Probos Promotes Lesser-Known Timber Species from Cameroon

As part of the ASP Cameroon project, funded by the European Union and executed by the International Technical Tropical Timber Association (ATIBT), Probos is responsible for the action focused on promoting Lesser Known Timber Species (LKTS) from Cameroon.

Valorizing LKTS is important to (1) prevent overharvesting of commercial species that reduces their regeneration potential, (2) prevent significant changes to forest structure, (3) increase the resilience of sustainable forest operations by diversifying income streams, and (4) diversify product offerings in Europe.

The need for LKTS was further emphasized by the inclusion of Padouk (Pterocarpus spp.) and Doussié (Afzelia spp.) in the CITES Annex 2 as per February 2023 and the accompanying due diligence work now required for importing these species.

Research by Robin Doucet and colleagues at the Gembloux University in Belgium has presented several interesting LKTS from Cameroon with market potential. The species include among others Omvong (Dialium spp.), Eveuss (Klainedoxa gabonensis), Mubala (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth.), Eyek (Pachyelasma tessmannii (Harms)), and Ossoko (Scyphocephalium mannii).

Probos is collaborating with timber traders in Cameroon and Europe to promote and accelerate the uptake of sustainably sourced LKTS by importers and end-users in Europe. We support pilot projects with existing and new partners, and we engage in communication and storytelling around these projects.

The target groups of the overall project include: forest companies with FSC or PEFC-PAFC sustainable management certification, companies moving towards sustainable forest management and certification, wood processing companies, industry associations, timber traders, and local players. The ASP Cameroon project is funded by the EU as part of the Programme for Improving Governance in Forestry (PAMFOR). Probos supports ATIBT in the execution of this project.

Please reach out if you are interested in setting up (pilot) projects with LKTS from Cameroon to Eli Prins via Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.