Covered over 80 % of tropical forest, and in the context of the spectrum of oil depletion, Gabon is faced with the challenge of ensuring a balance between exploitation and conservation of its resources. As a result, policies are largely guided by the commitments made by Governments to meet international orders, but also by pressure from donors and sponsors (international NGOs, foundations, cooperation agencies…) for a Sustainable Development. This shift towards sustainable forest management has led the country to significant reforms: new modes of governance (with the involvement of "new" actors in different ambitions), new forest code, a new organization of institutions, new ways of uses of forests. A break seems to be marked here from independence and even colonial times management. Between a claim of national sovereignty and management of a resource that touches on global issues, forest governance is complex for a state limited in technical and financial resources. Forest areas and people who depend on them become the battleground of various and diverse strategies, sometimes divergent, which do not always correspond to the local socio- cultural reality, but legitimized by the single label for sustainable management. Our thesis provides keys for the reading of this governance and the dynamics of forest policies in Gabon, with emphasis on the observation of certain players. While it is often assumed that southern states forest's are under the influence of powerful international NGOs, a symbol of a prescribed governance and environmental intervention, Our study shows that the presence of these players may also reflect a southern Governments strategy to regain their resources and their territories. From dominants to dominated relationship, we go to a win-win relationship, sometimes at the risk of a local population exploited and designated. In addressing the role of games and players to understand the territory, this thesis provides opportunities to bring a new perspective on the management of forest resources in ...
Covered over 80 % of tropical forest, and in the context of the spectrum of oil depletion, Gabon is faced with the challenge of ensuring a balance between exploitation and conservation of its resources. As a result, policies are largely guided by the commitments made by Governments to meet international orders, but also by pressure from donors and sponsors (international NGOs, foundations, cooperation agencies…) for a Sustainable Development. This shift towards sustainable forest management has led the country to significant reforms: new modes of governance (with the involvement of "new" actors in different ambitions), new forest code, a new organization of institutions, new ways of uses of forests. A break seems to be marked here from independence and even colonial times management. Between a claim of national sovereignty and management of a resource that touches on global issues, forest governance is complex for a state limited in technical and financial resources. Forest areas and people who depend on them become the battleground of various and diverse strategies, sometimes divergent, which do not always correspond to the local socio- cultural reality, but legitimized by the single label for sustainable management. Our thesis provides keys for the reading of this governance and the dynamics of forest policies in Gabon, with emphasis on the observation of certain players. While it is often assumed that southern states forest's are under the influence of powerful international NGOs, a symbol of a prescribed governance and environmental intervention, Our study shows that the presence of these players may also reflect a southern Governments strategy to regain their resources and their territories. From dominants to dominated relationship, we go to a win-win relationship, sometimes at the risk of a local population exploited and designated. In addressing the role of games and players to understand the territory, this thesis provides opportunities to bring a new perspective on the management of forest resources in Gabon. ; Couvert à plus de 80% de forêt tropicale, et dans le contexte du spectre de l'épuisement du pétrole, le Gabon est confronté au défi d'assurer un équilibre entre exploitation et préservation de ses ressources. Les politiques qui en découlent sont largement orientées par les engagements pris par le gouvernement pour répondre aux injonctions internationales, mais aussi à la pression des bailleurs de fonds et aux promoteurs du développement durable (ONG internationales, fondations, organismes de coopération…). Cette orientation vers une gestion durable des forêts a ainsi conduit le pays à des réformes considérables : nouveaux modes de gouvernance (avec l'implication de « nouveaux » acteurs aux ambitions diverses), nouveau code forestier, nouvelle organisation des institutions, nouveaux modes d'usages des forêts. Une rupture semble être marquée ici avec une gestion héritée des indépendances, voire de l'époque coloniale. Entre revendication d'une souveraineté nationale et gestion d'une ressource qui touche à des enjeux planétaires, la gouvernance des forêts s'avère complexe pour un État aux moyens techniques et financiers limités. Les espaces forestiers et les populations qui en dépendent deviennent ainsi le terrain d'affrontements de stratégies diverses, parfois divergentes, souvent calquées sur des modèles ne correspondant pas toujours à la réalité socio-culturelle locale, mais légitimées par le seul label de gestion durable. Notre thèse donne des clés de lecture sur cette gouvernance et sur les dynamiques des politiques forestières au Gabon, en mettant l'accent sur l'observation de certains acteurs. S'il est souvent admis que les États forestiers du sud sont sous l'emprise de puissantes ONG internationales, symboles d'une gouvernance prescrite et d'une ingérence écologique, notre étude montre que la présence de ces nouveaux acteurs peut aussi témoigner d'une stratégie des gouvernements du sud pour la reconquête de leurs ressources et de leurs territoires. De dominants à dominés, on passe à une relation de gagnants à gagnants, au péril parfois d'une population locale instrumentalisée et résignée. En abordant les jeux et le rôle des acteurs pour comprendre le territoire, cette thèse offre des perspectives pour porter un nouveau regard sur la gestion des ressources forestières au Gabon.
