As part of the fifth Conference on Dense Humid Central African Forest Ecosystems (CEFDHAC), the launch was organized by CIFOR's office in Yaounde, Cameroon, in conjunction with IUCN, and attracted over 170 people from Central Africa, Europe and North America. Ousseynou Ndoye, CIFOR's Regional Coordinator in Cameroon and Jon Anderson of USAID, Washington, presented four major publications to the dignitaries and members of the international frost community.

The importance of CIFOR's work in Africa was acknowledged by the presence at the launch of some of central Africa's most senior forestry and environmental Ministers, including: The Minister of the Environment and Forestry of Cameroon, Chief Tanyi-Mbianyor Clarkson Oben. The Minister of Land Management, Environment, & Tourism of Burundi, Albert Mbonerane. The Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fisheries of the Central African Republic, Salle Michel.The Minister of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Anselme Enerunga. The Minister of Territorial Management, Environment and Tourism of Burundi, Albert Mbonerone. The Minister of Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Sao Tome and Principe Republic Santos Da Argentino, was represented by Pires Santos. The Minister of Forestry Economy of the Republic of Congo, Henri Djombo, was unable to attend due to a flight delay.

The four books launched included:

• Forest products, livelihoods and conservation: Case studies of non-timber forest products systems - Volume 2 Africa. Edited by Terry Sunderland and Ousseynou Ndoye. This is the second of CIFOR's three major volumes containing more than 60 commercial non-timber forest products case studies from Asia (Vol. 1), Africa and Latin America (Vol. 3). Each chapter in the volumes describes all aspects of particular case, from production through to consumption, and ends with a section on conservation and development lessons.
• Riches of the forest for health, life and spirit in Africa. Edited by Citlalli Lopez and Patricia Shanley. Throughout Africa, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as plants and bush meat are used daily, providing a crucial resource for local livelihoods. Despite considerable research, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the importance of NTFPs. Lopez and Shanley's research is a major contribution. It brings to life the people and products behind the research, communicating in a very readable way, the importance of "green social security."
• When the Dutch Disease met the French connection: Oil, Macroeconomics and Forests in Gabon. By Sven Wunder. The central hypothesis of Wunder's report is that Gabon's oil wealth has resulted in a series of policies that, along with low demographic pressure, have played a key role protecting Gabon's forests. Wunder examines how the policies accompanying oil wealth have caused agriculture to decline and unintentionally enabled forests to expand.
• Nature wealth and power: Emerging best practice for revitalizing rural Africa. By USAID, CIFOR, Winrock, IRG. Building on lessons learned from more than 20 years of natural resource-based development in rural Africa, this document presents principles and action steps intended to serve as a guide to investment in rural Africa. It finds programmes that integrate environmental management (nature), economic concerns (wealth), and good governance (power) show promising results.

As part of CIFOR's commitment to disseminating it's research as strategically and as widely as possible, CIFOR arranged for representatives from Cameroon's main media to cover the event, including: Radio Environment, Cameroon Radio Television, Canal 2 International, Cameroon Tribune, The Post, La Lumière, Le Développement, Mutations and La voix du paysan.