Academic and Research Council of the ERAIFT
(23–27 August 2010)

University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

• ©UNESCO
• Graduation ceremony at ERAIFT

From 23 to 27 August, the Academic and Research Council of ERAIFT (Regional Post-graduate Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands) is in session at the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. ERAIFT is a flagship project of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme. More…

Since 1999 ERAIFT has awarded 86 masters degrees and three PhDs to students from 12 African countries (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Guinea, Madagascar, Niger and Togo).

ERAIFT has its origins in the Declaration of N’Sele, adopted during the Regional Seminar on the Strengthening of Cooperation for the Rational Management of African Tropical Forests held in N’Sele in the DRC, in March 1991.

Its overall purpose is to halt the waste of human and natural resources. Its specific objectives are: the eradication of poverty through the satisfaction of basic human needs; the conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance; sustainable and ecologically viable human development; and the integrated management of tropical forests and land.

ERAIFT’s mission is to train a new type of specialist in the management of tropical forests and lands, using an interdisciplinary, integrated, systemic and holistic approach.

The integrated management of tropical forests and lands takes into account all the elements which influence the bio-physical environment and, in particular, the population, which interacts with its multiple facets and resources – soils, woody and non-woody products, food, intangible resources, etc – necessary to satisfy basic needs. The scientific and conceptual basis for this approach is underpinned by the concepts and laws of the general theory of systems – systemic analysis – an essential characteristic of the pedagogic philosophy of ERAIFT.

The emphasis is on the essential condition of the participation of the local population in integrated development.

Institutional Aspects: ERAIFT’s implementing agency is UNESCO, through its Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences. The International Supervisory Committee, established by UNESCO upon the creation of the School, includes specialists nominated personally by the Director-General of UNESCO, representatives of associated countries, donors and institutional science and research partners.

The Administrative Council, chaired by UNESCO, is the principal oversight mechanism. It includes representatives of the DRC government, the University of Kinshasa, associated African countries, regional and international partners, the private sector and environmental NGOs.

The Academic and Research Council coordinates and ensures the quality of teaching and research, and oversees the selection of students and professors.

In addition to French-speaking African countries, ERAIFT aims to extend its activities to English-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking African countries, in particular in the framework of NEPAD.

Related links:

ERAIFT homepage: www.eraift.org (in French only)

UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences 

• Source:UNESCO
• 24-08-2010