Leading experts on Central African forests spotlight the regional and global importance of the Congo Basin and the threats faced by the world’s second-largest rainforest
Bonn, Germany (20 June 2024) – The Congo Basin is one of the world’s most significant wilderness areas and plays a pivotal role in global carbon sequestration. However, this ecosystem is now under threat from deforestation, degradation and the climate crisis.
The world’s second-largest tropical forest sequesters approximately 40 gigatons of carbon annually – roughly equivalent to all of the carbon emissions that humans produce each year, according to the State of the Forests report by the Observatory for Central African Forests (OFAC).
“This is a global issue. The Congo Basin is a major source of rainfall in the Sahel region. A huge proportion of the world’s ecosystem services come from this region,” said Richard Eba’a Atyi, Regional Coordinator for Central Africa at CIFOR-ICRAF, at a forum today in Bonn, Germany.
The forests of Central Africa also provide 75 million people with vital natural resources, spanning Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
“It’s not conservation for conservation’s sake, but for the benefit of the local communities and Indigenous Peoples who live there and their livelihoods and well-being. If we have those forests standing there today, it is because people are taking care of them,” said Dr Aurelie Flore Koumba Pambo, Facilitator at the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP).
Despite their critical importance, the forests of the Congo Basin are being destroyed at an alarming rate, with projections suggesting that they could shrink by 27% by 2050 unless urgent action is taken.
Mining and logging activities are major drivers of deforestation in the region and are often carried out illegally or without concern for sustainability. Experts believe a better understanding of the Congo Basin’s forests is needed to address these root causes.
“It is difficult to manage natural resources if we have no information about them. Science is needed to inform those in charge of decision making, and this requires not only human but also financial resources,” said Eba’a Atyi.
Over the 10-year period from 2008 to 2017, the forest and environment sector in Central Africa accounted for only 11.5% of global financing for the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests. Experts say urgent action is required to secure funding for the conservation of these high-integrity forests.
The OFAC Hybrid Forum: What is the state of Central African forests?, presented by OFAC and hosted by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), gathered over 700 leading experts, practitioners and policymakers in Bonn, Germany, and online today.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
To watch the experts’ insights on the latest research, opportunities, and solutions for sustainable forest management in the Congo Basin, register here for free.
Find photos of the Congo Basin, the speakers and the OFAC hybrid forum here.
Learn more about Central African forests here: Facts & Figures Protected Areas of Central Africa 2024 (EN) and State of the Forests 2021 (EN and FR).
Interviews are especially encouraged, in English or French, with:
- Christian Ruck, CBFP Facilitator of the Federal Republic of Germany, an expert in sustainable forest management, climate change and forest finance, notably in the context of Germany.
- Florence Palla, Project Coordinator at OFAC RIOFAC, an expert in forest data management and sustainable forest management, especially in the contexts of Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola and the Central African Republic.
- Richard Eba’a Atyi, Regional Coordinator for Central Africa at CIFOR-ICRAF, an expert in sustainable forest management, particularly in Cameroon, Congo and Gabon.
- Robert Nasi, Chief Operating Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF, a global expert on forests, advocating for integrated social and biological science for better forest management, more sustainable livelihoods, and improved forest policies.
For more information, photos and quotes, to access the forum recordings, or to arrange interviews or connect with local stories in the Congo Basin, please contact Kelly Quintero (k.quintero@cifor-icraf.org).
About OFAC
The Observatory of Forests of Central Africa (OFAC), supported by the EU-funded RIOFAC project, is an initiative of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), providing essential data and insights into the state of the forests and protected areas within Central Africa. The OFAC aims to support informed decision-making for the sustainable management and conservation of the region’s critical forest ecosystems.
About the GLF
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable & resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.
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