The definition in 1994 of a new National Forest Policy (PNF) whose main objective is to promote the development and maintenance of the economic, ecological and social functions of forests is proof that the forest sub-sector represents a major value for the social and economic development of Benin. Recognizing the challenges that forest resources represent in improving the living conditions of populations, in particular by reducing poverty and adapting to climate change, the State has taken measures to ensure the conservation and rational exploitation of these resources. These measures have resulted in the implementation of a range of programmes aimed at ensuring the development and sustainable management of forests and natural resources. However, the implementation, planning and monitoring and evaluation of these programmes cannot be carried out in the absence of a system for the production of comprehensive and quality information.
Indeed, it should be emphasized that the forest sub-sector does not fundamentally suffer from a lack of data but rather from a high dispersion of data and also from a weak dissemination of these data due to the multiplicity of actors involved in the production of these data. Faced with this poor situation, the need to centralize the data produced by the various actors in the forest sub-sector is necessary in order to improve coordination. It is therefore to meet a need for centralization that the DGFRN initiated the project aimed at the “Establishment of a National System of Information and Management of Forest Statistics in Benin”.

The production of the 2013-2014 forest statistics yearbook is part of the implementation of this project and aims to ensure the dissemination of information on forest and wildlife resources in Benin. This yearbook, which is the first edition to be published, brings together the main activities carried out by the various structures involved in the forest sub-sector. It is structured in five (05) parts. The first part presents the administrative organization of the forest sub-sector. The second part brings together statistics on forest cover, wood potential and the exploitation of forest products. The third part presents the indicators relating to the management of wildlife and protected areas. Information on the management of wildfires is presented in the fourth part. Finally, the fifth part is devoted to forest recipes.