An integrated forest-to-market approach to promote lesser-known timber species (LKTS) in a domestic timber market in the Congo Basin
Abstract
The continued reliance on a few high-value commercial species in the Congo Basin raises concerns about their long-term availability. This study adopts an integrated forest-to-market approach to assess the potential of lesser-known timber species (LKTS) to support sustainable timber supply in the domestic market of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.urveys and wood sampling were conducted in sawmills and joinery workshops to identify locally traded timber species and their uses. Local uses were then compared with measured wood properties and local craftworkers' perceptions of these properties. Forest inventory data for the identified species were also analysed to assess their availability and dynamics. Twenty-seven timber species were identified, nine of which were particularly widespread in the market. Of the remaining 18 species, 14 were LKTS and showed limited market integration. Local uses matched reference wood properties, which also aligned with craftworkers' perceptions, highlighting local knowledge of timber quality that may facilitate the market acceptance of species. The nine widespread species variously exhibited low standing stocks (<1 m3 ha−1), slow growth (<0.5 cm yr−1), or limited regeneration, raising concerns about their long-term capacity to sustain local timber supply. Beyond suitable wood properties, certain LKTS showed advantages in these ecological attributes, highlighting their potential as alternatives for local timber supply. This approach could be extended to other domestic timber markets, with LKTS selected based not only on wood properties but also on local knowledge of timber quality and forest resource availability and dynamics.
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BibTeX
@article{wasukundi2026integrated,
title = {{An integrated forest-to-market approach to promote lesser-known timber species (LKTS) in a domestic timber market in the Congo Basin}},
author = {Mbusa Wasukundi and Marie Caroline Momo Solefack and Chadrack Kafuti and Hans Beeckman and Nils Bourland and Jean-Pierre Mate Mweru and Benoît Jourez and Kévin Liévens and Michael Monnoye and Félix Laurent and Falonne Osiveri and Robin Doucet and Paul Katembo Vikanza and Silvia Ferrari and Jean Gerard and Nestor K. Luambua and Joris van Acker and Jan van den Bulcke and Wannes Hubau and Tom de Mil},
journal = {Plants, People, Planet},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ppp3.70282},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05796362v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An integrated forest-to-market approach to promote lesser-known timber species (LKTS) in a domestic timber market in the Congo Basin
AU - Mbusa Wasukundi
AU - Marie Caroline Momo Solefack
AU - Chadrack Kafuti
AU - Hans Beeckman
AU - Nils Bourland
AU - Jean-Pierre Mate Mweru
AU - Benoît Jourez
AU - Kévin Liévens
AU - Michael Monnoye
AU - Félix Laurent
AU - Falonne Osiveri
AU - Robin Doucet
AU - Paul Katembo Vikanza
AU - Silvia Ferrari
AU - Jean Gerard
AU - Nestor K. Luambua
AU - Joris van Acker
AU - Jan van den Bulcke
AU - Wannes Hubau
AU - Tom de Mil
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Plants, People, Planet
DO - 10.1002/ppp3.70282
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05796362v1
AB - The continued reliance on a few high-value commercial species in the Congo Basin raises concerns about their long-term availability. This study adopts an integrated forest-to-market approach to assess the potential of lesser-known timber species (LKTS) to support sustainable timber supply in the domestic market of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.urveys and wood sampling were conducted in sawmills and joinery workshops to identify locally traded timber species and their uses. Local uses were then compared with measured wood properties and local craftworkers' perceptions of these properties. Forest inventory data for the identified species were also analysed to assess their availability and dynamics. Twenty-seven timber species were identified, nine of which were particularly widespread in the market. Of the remaining 18 species, 14 were LKTS and showed limited market integration. Local uses matched reference wood properties, which also aligned with craftworkers' perceptions, highlighting local knowledge of timber quality that may facilitate the market acceptance of species. The nine widespread species variously exhibited low standing stocks (<1 m3 ha−1), slow growth (<0.5 cm yr−1), or limited regeneration, raising concerns about their long-term capacity to sustain local timber supply. Beyond suitable wood properties, certain LKTS showed advantages in these ecological attributes, highlighting their potential as alternatives for local timber supply. This approach could be extended to other domestic timber markets, with LKTS selected based not only on wood properties but also on local knowledge of timber quality and forest resource availability and dynamics.
SN - 2572-2611
ER -