Forest resources and context of Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) has approximately 45.09 million hectares of forest, with timber production mainly concentrated in the southwest.

The forestry sector faces several risks, including illegal logging, deforestation, corruption, weak law enforcement and limited timber traceability. Agricultural expansion, mining activities and insecurity further increase pressure on forest resources.

Timber sourcing requires careful verification of harvesting permits, forest management plans and supply chain traceability.

Land surface

62.3

million ha

Forest lost

45,520

ha/year (2020-2025)

Forest cover

45.09

million ha

Production forest

4.8

million ha

Forest ownership

95.7

% publicly owned (2020 data)

Types of forest

The Central African Republic (CAR) covers approximately 62.3 million hectares, of which 45.09 million hectares (72.4%) are classified as forest, according to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025.

CAR's forest ecosystems include dense humid tropical forests in the south and drier forest–savannah transition zones further north. Dense humid forests, predominantly semi-deciduous, are concentrated in the southwest and, to a lesser extent, around Bangassou in the southeast.

Commercial timber production is mainly concentrated in the southwest forest massif, which contains economically valuable timber species such as Sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum), Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon) and Fraké (Terminalia superba). Approximately 4.83 million hectares are designated for forest production.

Armed conflict and insecurity, historically concentrated in northern prefectures such as Ouham-Pendé, Ouham and Vakaga, also present challenges for forest governance and monitoring.

Forest ownership in Central African Republic

According to the latest available FAO forest (2025) ownership data (2020), approximately 95.7% of CAR's forest area is publicly owned, while 4.3% is privately owned.

The Central African forest law (2008) splits the national forest domain into two parts: the permanent forest domain (the south-west massif, the Bangassou massif and the savannas) and the non-permanent forest domain (public authorities' forest areas, private individuals' forests and community forests).

Deforestation and Forest Degradation

According to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA 2025), deforestation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is estimated at 46,520 hectares per year between 2020 and 2025, representing approximately 0.1% of the country's forest area annually. Shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn agriculture are major sources of pressure on forest resources, alongside uncontrolled mining activities and charcoal production.

Illegal Logging

he risk of illegal logging remains high due to limited forest law enforcement capacity, insufficient human and logistical resources, and governance challenges.

Sustainable forest management in the Central African Republic faces several challenges:

Limited institutional and technical capacity of forest law enforcement authorities;
Insufficient financial and material resources to effectively monitor forest concessions and logging activities;
Remoteness and poor accessibility of many logging areas;
Increasing pressure on forest resources driven by local demand for fuelwood, timber and non-timber forest products;
Expansion of artisanal and informal logging activities;
Need to strengthen timber legality verification and supply chain traceability;
Coordination challenges involving local communities and civil society organisations.

In this context, the effective implementation of forest governance mechanisms, particularly the national legal framework and measures to ensure timber legality and sustainable forest management, remains a major priority.

Global Forest Watch Map

Step-by-step instructions : see here
Alert of deforestation : see here
Map : see here

Need to analyse deforestation risk at plot level? — WHISP

Open Foris Whisp (“What's in that plot?”) is a free and open-source solution developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support rapid, plot-level analysis of land use and deforestation risk. It combines geospatial datasets and satellite-based information to provide transparent insights for a specific location, helping users understand whether the area is forest, agricultural land, or potentially linked to deforestation or disturbance.

WHISP uses GPS points or plot polygons to perform an analysis based on multiple public datasets on forests and land use.

The aim is to identify plots that may present a potential deforestation risk and those for which further checks may be necessary.

→ Use WHISP online

→ WHISP documentation

RISK SCORES

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (Transparency international)

Corruption Perception Index

/100

0 is highly corrupt, 100 is very clean.
Source: Transparency International

ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION AND ASSOCIATED TRADE (IDAT) Risk (Forest Trend)

84.06/100

00 is higher risk, 0 is lower risk
Source: Forest trend

SOURCING HUB RISK SCORE (Preferred by nature)

22/100

0 is higher risk, 100 is lower risk
Source: Preferred by nature

COUNTRY DEFORESTESTATION CLASSIFICATION LIST - EUDR (European Commission)

LOW risk category

For more information about the methodology, see here

Interpretation of Risk Indicators

The indicators presented in this country profile (Corruption Perceptions Index, Forest Trends IDAT, Preferred by Nature Sourcing Hub and EU benchmarking) provide complementary information on corruption, timber legality, forest governance and deforestation risks. They use different methodologies and should not be interpreted as a uniform risk assessment of the country, individual operators or specific supply chains.

EU Benchmarking – Low Risk Classification

Under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Central African Republic is classified as a low-risk country, in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093. Operators sourcing relevant products exclusively from low-risk countries may benefit from simplified due diligence under Article 13 of the EUDR, provided the applicable conditions are met. This exempts them from the formal risk assessment and risk mitigation requirements under Articles 10 and 11. However, operators must still collect the information required under Article 9, including the geolocation of production plots, evidence that products are deforestation-free and documentation demonstrating compliance with relevant national legislation. Applicable due diligence statement requirements also remain in force. Operators must assess supply chain complexity and the risks of circumvention or mixing with products from standard- or high-risk countries or of unknown origin. Where relevant information indicates a risk of non-compliance, full risk assessment and, where necessary, risk mitigation are required.

Interpretation of Timber Legality and Governance Risks

CAR's low-risk classification under the EUDR does not mean that illegal logging, corruption or governance risks are absent. Assessments by Forest Trends and Preferred by Nature identify significant concerns relating to timber legality, law enforcement and supply chain traceability. These findings are not necessarily contradictory: EU benchmarking assesses country-level deforestation risk, while other indicators address broader legality and governance issues. Sourcing timber from CAR is not prohibited under the EUDR solely because of these risk indicators. Nevertheless, operators should verify harvesting rights, timber origin, transport documents and compliance with applicable forest legislation. Certification or an audit verification may provide supporting evidence but do not automatically establish EUDR compliance.

The Timber Trade Portal supports operators in understanding country-specific risks and identifying relevant verification measures. It does not replace their legal obligations under the EUDR.

Subnational variations in risks

HARVESTING SOURCE	DUE DILIGENCE COMPLEXITY	DUE DILIGENCE CONSIDERATION AND CONTROL CHECKS
Forest Exploitation and Management Permits (Permis d’Exploitation et d’Aménagement – PEA)	Moderate	Holders of Forest Exploitation and Management Permits (Permis d’Exploitation et d’Aménagement – PEA) are required to strictly comply with the provisions of the forest management plan and all applicable laws and regulations governing timber harvesting. Key verification points: Ensure that harvesting activities comply with the rotation schedule established in the forest management plan, that timber originates from the authorised Annual Cutting Area (Assiette Annuelle de Coupe – AAC), and that the Annual Operational Plan (Plan Annuel d’Opérations – PAO) and annual harvesting authorisation are valid. Verify the consistency between harvested and declared timber volumes, as well as the availability and compliance of all required legal documents, including timber movement records, proof of payment of forest taxes and fees, and transport documents.
COMMUNITY FORESTS	HIGH	Particular attention should be paid to forest governance, the implementation of the Simplified Forest Management Plan, and timber traceability. Key verification points: Verify the community forest allocation decree and its validity, the Simplified Forest Management Plan, the boundaries of the community forest, and the exact location of timber harvesting. Also verify the consistency between declared timber volumes and the corresponding transport documents.
ARTISANAL LOGGING PERMITS	VERY HIGH	Artisanal logging permits cover an area of 10 hectares and are valid for one year, requiring enhanced verification of timber origin. Key verification points: Verify the validity of the permit, the identity of the permit holder, the permit boundaries, and the exact origin of the timber. Also verify the relevant transport and commercial documentation.

HARVESTING SOURCE

DUE DILIGENCE COMPLEXITY

DUE DILIGENCE CONSIDERATION AND CONTROL CHECKS

Forest Exploitation and Management Permits (Permis d’Exploitation et d’Aménagement – PEA)

Moderate

Holders of Forest Exploitation and Management Permits (Permis d’Exploitation et d’Aménagement – PEA) are required to strictly comply with the provisions of the forest management plan and all applicable laws and regulations governing timber harvesting.

Key verification points: Ensure that harvesting activities comply with the rotation schedule established in the forest management plan, that timber originates from the authorised Annual Cutting Area (Assiette Annuelle de Coupe – AAC), and that the Annual Operational Plan (Plan Annuel d’Opérations – PAO) and annual harvesting authorisation are valid.

Verify the consistency between harvested and declared timber volumes, as well as the availability and compliance of all required legal documents, including timber movement records, proof of payment of forest taxes and fees, and transport documents.

COMMUNITY FORESTS

HIGH

Particular attention should be paid to forest governance, the implementation of the Simplified Forest Management Plan, and timber traceability.

Key verification points: Verify the community forest allocation decree and its validity, the Simplified Forest Management Plan, the boundaries of the community forest, and the exact location of timber harvesting.

Also verify the consistency between declared timber volumes and the corresponding transport documents.

ARTISANAL LOGGING PERMITS

VERY HIGH

Artisanal logging permits cover an area of 10 hectares and are valid for one year, requiring enhanced verification of timber origin.
Key verification points: Verify the validity of the permit, the identity of the permit holder, the permit boundaries, and the exact origin of the timber. Also verify the relevant transport and commercial documentation.

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