WWF France and Rougier Group announced that they will work together in a three-year strategic collaboration that focuses on advancing sustainable forestry in Africa and responsible supply chains in Europe.

Rougier describes itself as a key player in the international market and sources timber from a number of WWF priority regions. Rougier says it has production forests and facilities in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo, and an import, trade and marketing branch in France. The company holds Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Forest Management Certificates for several concessions in Gabon and Cameroon, and its subsidiary Rougier Sylvaco Panneaux holds FSC® and PEFCTM Chain of Custody certificates.

Through the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), one of WWF's leading initiatives to promote responsible forestry and trade, WWF will support Rougier in maintaining and strengthening its objectives to increase the volumes of credibly certified products, especially through market links, as well as in ensuring that the company is successful in implementing responsible due diligence measures required by the EU Timber Regulation.

On the forestry side, Rougier and WWF have agreed to focus on:

- Development and implementation of relevant indicators for wildlife management and monitoring in Rougier's concessions in Gabon.

- Establishment of effective mechanisms for local development in Cameroon.

- Supporting the well-functioning of the anti-poaching unit (USLAB) in Northern Congo.

- Enabling a better functioning of the local development fund financed by Rougier and contributing directly to local development in Congo.

"Rougier and WWF have worked together for several years. This new collaboration enables us to join our forces to conduct large-scale operations," said Francis Rougier, the Group's CEO. "Sustainable development is integral to our business and we are very pleased to be working with WWF as we continue to increase our responsible forest area and volume traded."

Rougier Group is a leading producer of certified African tropical timber.