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Berlin, Germany - 14 February 2019 The Federal Republic of Germany has agreed to take over the Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) for the period 2020-2021. It is thus honoured and very pleased to be able to take over this role and to continue the initiatives and work undertaken by the previous CBFP Facilitators: the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Union, Canada, France and the United States.
Dr. Christian Ruck, has been appointed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to assume the role of CBFP Facilitator for the next two years. Dr. Ruck is a seasoned, high-level politician with proven expertise and a keen interest in the Congo Basin. He has worked both at the German and international level, representing his country in numerous international fora and has accepted several important mandates.
Dr. Ruck was officially installed as CBFP Facilitator of the Republic of Germany on 14 February 2020 at BMZ Berlin during a solemn ceremony presided over by Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Member of the German Federal Government. This ceremony marked at the same time the official launch of the activities of the German Facilitation. It brought together Ambassadors of Central African countries, Ambassadors and diplomatic missions of donor countries, German parliamentarians and sectoral ministries concerned with the topic as well as national and international organizations.
"It is both an honour and a challenge for me to lead an initiative such as the CBFP" said the new facilitator, who was, among others, from 1990 to 2013, Member of the Bundestag, German Federal Parliament, from October 2002 to November 2009, Chairman of the Working Group on Economic Cooperation and Development of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group and from November 2009 to 2013, Dr Ruck was Vice-Chairman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group and responsible for Economic Cooperation and Development, Environment and Energy. In 2013, Dr Ruck assumed the position of Director of the KFW office in Cameroon, with a broad portfolio, including the forestry sector. More recently, he was with KFW in Tanzania covering the green sector portfolio.
"It is essential for the Federal Republic of Germany and the other CBFP partners to support the efforts that Central African countries are striving to implement for the conservation and sustainable management of their natural resources and the fight against poverty. The sustainable development of the magnificent forests that these countries are home to is one of the keys to their future development. The preservation of their unique biodiversity and the control of the carbon stocks they contain are also global challenges that call for global solutions. Thus reflecting the importance and global responsibility of humanity in the preservation of its forests, natural resources and biodiversity capital. But above all the positive impact that the conservation and sustainable management of these forests have on people's livelihoods and on the global climate. For these solutions to emerge, stakeholders need to come together and suggest relevant and effective strategic directions. This is why the CBFP is important, given the multiple pressures that threaten the integrity of its ecosystems and whose causes are diverse and linked to, among others, the resource and policy governance framework, the security situation, socio-economic development and the effects of climate change".
"What can the Congo Basin Forest Partnership do? - Our joint partnership can develop or initiate problem analyses and corresponding solutions. It brings together allies, but also parties in conflict in an atmosphere of voluntariness and institutional flexibility. It can initiate, activate and support action programmes and transboundary agreements, and it can try to coordinate and align the multitude of donors, funds and programmes with a single ambition: the protection and sustainable use of the forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin. »
Dr. Ruck, the new facilitator, is pleased that the outgoing facilitator, provided by the Kingdom of Belgium from January 2018 to December 2019, has worked with partners to consolidate the governance of the CBFP, further develop and guide the partnership in the enhanced thematic and policy dialogue among partners.
"The facilitation of the Federal Republic of Germany obviously intends to build on the results achieved by the facilitation.
To this end, the new facilitation intends to propose two priorities to its partners:
It will be communicated to the partners and posted on the CBFP website after its adoption by the parties in the coming weeks.
The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) was established in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in response to United Nations General Assembly resolution 54/214, which called on the international community to support the efforts for the conservation and sustainable management of the forests of the Congo Basin, as reflected in the declaration of the Heads of State of Yaoundé 1999.
The Congo Basin Forest Partnership is affiliated with the partnerships of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. As a "Type2" partnership, it is a multi-stakeholder partnership allowing member organisations to cooperate on a voluntary basis. The CBFP brings together 115 members, including 10 Central African countries and nearly a hundred partners concerned with the forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin (ECCAS, COMIFAC, partner countries, civil society of the Congo Basin, international NGOs, multilateral organizations, research and training institutions, private sector operators). Cooperation within CBFP aims to support this common vision of the Central African Heads of State, in particular by improving the effectiveness of the measures taken, including technical and financial support, in favour of biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of forest ecosystems, the fight against climate change and poverty reduction in Central African countries in accordance with the COMIFAC Convergence Plan.
Cooperation and governance structure of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership
In keeping with its non-binding and voluntary nature, the CBFP does not have a formal institutional structure. Instead, it has a set of informal structures: CBFP Meeting of the Parties; CBFP Governing Council; CBFP Colleges; CBFP Facilitation.
The CBFP was initially facilitated by the United States from January 2003 to December 2004, France from January 2005 to October 2007, Germany from October 2007 to September 2010 and Canada from September 2010 to December 12. The United States again assumed the Facilitation from May 2013 to December 2015, the European Union from January 2016 to December 2018. The Kingdom of Belgium from January 2018 to December 2019. The CBFP Facilitation is now provided for the second time by the Federal Republic of Germany for the period 2020-2021.
The Federal Republic of Germany, which has been a member of the Partnership since the launch of the initiative in 2002, was one of the original supporters of the "Congo Basin Forest Partnership" at its inception. Eighteen years after this initial launch, the CBFP continues to flourish, with today 115 members and an average of more than 500 participants in the meetings of the parties. Better yet, the CBFP is, without a doubt, a capital for our actions today and a hope for our future achievements. It represents one of the good examples of the concept of multi-stakeholder partnerships, contributing to intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder engagement.
Approximately 5% for Central African countries and the bulk for other geographical zones... towards an "Accelerator for the preservation of the Congo Basin forests and peripheries" towards Belém COP 30 Climate post Glasgow?
... WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative and researchers from Land & Carbon Lab have partnered with Meta to develop a groundbreaking AI foundation model that we’ve used to produce the world’s first global map of tree canopy height at a 1-meter resolution, allowing the detection of single trees at a global scale...
The 20th CBFP Meeting of Parties (MoP20) held in Kinshasa, DRC from 3 to 5 June 2024 The Co-Facilitation of the Republic of France and Gabon for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) organised five high-level round tables, on different topics during the MoP20.
The 20th Meeting of the Parties (MOP20) was a high point, marked by the participation of eight ministers from the Congo Basin and more than 600 participants, illustrating the importance and scope of our partnership. The CBFP proved once again that it is an essential forum for dialogue and cooperation. The diversity and commitment of the stakeholders present were a driving force for emulation and fruitful collaboration. Finally, the exemplary cooperation with the Congolese authorities greatly contributed to the success of this meeting.
Kinshasa, MOP 20 of the CBFP At the end of the proceedings, among other major resolutions, Ms Cécile Ndjebet, Champion of Forests and Champion of the Earth, Co-Leader of the CBFP civil society college, was elected by consensus to head the "Regional Civil Society Coalition for Forests and the Environment of the Congo Basin".
The Scientific and Academic College of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is actively participating in the 26th IUFRO World Congress from 23 to 29 June 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden, with a booth located at A01:01 in Exhibition Hall A at Stockholmsmässan, Mässvägen 1, 125 80 Stockholm. Over the course of the week, a series of workshops will be held to present the platforms of forestry science in the Congo Basin and highlight the latest research, innovations and applied sciences.
10 June 2024: ITTO has urged more attention to the need for capacity building and training in the Congo Basin to ensure that the region’s vital forest sector and timber industry will be able to meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other international trade measures.
It is with great respect and a deep sense of responsibility that we, the Africa Climate Action Initiative (ACAI), support the 20th Meeting of the Parties of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (RDP20) which will be held from 3 to June 5, 2024 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This approach aims to strengthen our collective commitment to the sustainable management and conservation of the Congo Basin, a critical global resource, and to catalyze transformative actions that align with a shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.
The USAID FABS Project is organising 4 captivating webinars in French and English on the theme of nature-based tourism in the Congo Basin. These events will take place on Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 June 2024. The aim of these webinars is to communicate the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism in Central Africa, while promoting mutual learning for the development of tourism in protected areas. The sessions will focus in particular on studies carried out in the DRC, Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Congo Brazzaville.
Libreville, Gabon 22 April 2024, Rainforest Trust has officially joined the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP). Rainforest Trust is now one of 129 member countries and organizations working together in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership to promote sustainable resource management, combat climate change and its impacts, improve living conditions and protect the unique biodiversity of Central Africa’s tropical forest.
The French-Gabonese Co-Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is pleased to inform you that the 20th Meeting of Parties (MoP20) of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 3-5 June 2024. If you wish to attend the 20th Meeting of Parties (MoP) of the CBFP and related events, please register before 05 May, 23:59, 2024 by completing the form below and clicking on the button “register”. It will not be possible to attend the meeting without a properly completed registration procedure.
The 20th Meeting of the Parties to the CBFP (MOP20) will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from 3 to 5 June 2024. The MOP20 is organised by the Co-Facilitation of the French and Gabonese Republics of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP). Please find the provisional programme of the 20th Meeting of the Parties of the CBFP (MOP20).
The French-Gabonese Co-Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is pleased to inform you that the 20th Meeting of Parties (MoP20) of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 3-5 June 2024. If you wish to cover the 20th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) of the CBFP and associated meetings, please register before 16 May 2024 by filling in the form below and clicking on the "register" button.
The "Youth Forum for the Forests of Central Africa 2024" is scheduled to take place over 2 days from 31 May to 1 June in Kinshasa. It will bring together 150 young people from Central Africa and Europe who are committed to protecting forests and preserving the environment. This forum is organised by the Franco-Gabonese facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), a 128-member initiative that serves as a platform for multi-sectoral dialogue on forest conservation. The Youth Forum will be a preliminary event to the CBFP Meeting of the Parties, which will take place from 3 to 5 June in Kinshasa, and will serve as a general assembly for its members.
Abuja, 19 April 2024, His Excellency Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, Federal Minister of the Environment of Nigeria and His Excellency Jules Doret Ndongo, Minister of Forestry and Wildlife of Cameroon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation of transborder ecosystems and the sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources along their common border of more than 1,500 km.
The Facilitation of the French and Gabonese Republics is pleased to launch a call for proposals to host side events during the 20th Meeting of the Parties (MOP20) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from 3-5 June 2024. In line with the themes of MOP20 of the CBFP, side events provide opportunities for information exchange, dialogue, cooperation and the creation of synergies between CBFP partners. Deadline for submissions: 19 April 2024. Applicants for selected proposals will be contacted on 30 April 2024.
The Co-Facilitation of the French and Gabonese Republics of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is pleased to inform you that the "Signing Ceremony of the Framework Cooperation Agreement on the Conservation of Transboundary Ecosystems and Sustainable Management of Forest and Wildlife Resources between the Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon" will take place on Friday 19 April 2024 at 10:00 am at the Continental Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. In conjunction with this signing ceremony, a technical round table on the implementation of the framework cooperation agreement on the conservation of transboundary ecosystems and the sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources between Nigeria and Cameroon will be held at 12 noon on Thursday 18 April at the same hotel.
The Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) is deeply saddened to announce the death of Mrs Sylvie Louisette NGO YEBEL Epse FOUNGA, Communications Expert of Cameroonian nationality, at the COMIFAC Executive Secretariat. She was murdered and her body found on Sunday 7 April 2024 at around 8.30 am in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The CBFP Youth Forum and Meeting of Parties will take place from 31 May to 5 June 2024 in Kinshasa and will bring together more than 700 stakeholders committed to preserving the forests of the Congo Basin. The Meeting of Parties and the Youth Forum will be co-chaired by Ambassador Christophe Guilhou (France) and Ambassador Flore Koumba Pambo (Gabon) and the current President of COMIFAC, His Excellency Mr Prosper Dodiko, with the participation of senior representatives of the DRC.
CIDT wishes to recruit an enthusiastic, people-centred international development professional to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team. To be considered for this post you will have an understanding and experience of global sustainable development work and be prepared to work both in UK and overseas. You will be qualified to master’s level in one or more of the following core areas of our work: Global Sustainable /International development/ Development Studies, Development Effectiveness, Gender and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Livelihoods, Natural Resource Management, Forest Governance or Education and Development and have expertise in the related fields.
This brief note sets out the principle of an ecological bonus-malus mechanism, designed to change behaviour by modifying the relative prices of products, while aiming for budget neutrality (no tax losses for the State). It applies in particular to the agricultural and forestry sectors, but can also be applied to other areas. We are currently working with various colleagues on the timber and cocoa sectors, and on an automated simulator with a user-friendly interface that can be easily used by government departments and their partners who would like to test the tool and, if necessary, implement it.
The Co-Facilitation of France and Gabon of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is pleased to announce the selection of COMIFAC by the CBD Secretariat as a centre for technical and scientific cooperation for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Framework for Biodiversity in Central Africa. With the highest score in Africa, COMIFAC ranks 4th in the world. The co-facilitation congratulates COMIFAC on this major distinction.
On Tuesday 12 March 2024, from 16:30-18:00 CET, the first dialogue between the College of Donors and the Scientific and Academic College (SAC) of the CBFP was held in virtual form. Over 70 people participated actively in the dialogue. The aim of the meeting was to promote cooperation as well as scientific and academic dialogue on the forests of the Congo Basin as part of the implementation of strategic priority 1 of the 2023-2025 roadmap of the CBFP.
The Franco-Gabonese Co-Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) organised the 13th meeting of the Governing Council of the CBFP by video conference on Tuesday 9 April 2024. Please, download the report...
Many countries have recently adopted bioenergy as part of a critical strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet targets under the Paris Climate Agreement. Because of increased efficiency and lower production costs, along with legislative support and investment incentives, bioenergy use is swiftly becoming a renewable energy substitute for fossil fuels. The study provides a better understanding of bioenergy issues, potential and sustainability to inform countries in the global South and provide guidance on integrating bioenergy into their national energy plans by proposing a simplified sustainability framework for wood-based bioenergy.
A workshop was held in Brazzaville on Thursday 7 March to review the work carried out by the communications agency Afrique Environnement Plus, attended by a dozen participants, including companies from the sector. The new website for the Congolese forest-wood industry (which will shortly be the subject of a dedicated article) and a communication checklist developed as part of the ASP Congo project were presented.
As part of the ASP Congo project, a series of videos gives a voice to companies committed to responsible forestry practices.This video, produced with the financial support of the European Union, shows what forestry companies are doing to ensure the safety of their employees and to manage their waste properly through their HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) policy. In this way, they are driving forward an economy that respects people and ecosystems.
As part of the ASP-Green Pact project, supported by the European Union and led by ATIBT, we are pleased to invite you to participate in a survey on trade relations with Cameroon, with a response deadline set for April 4th. This initiative aims to refine our understanding of current trade relations between European importers and Cameroonian producers, with a particular focus on lesser-known timber species (LKTS) from Cameroon. Furthermore, this approach is part of the preparations for the International Wood Fair (CIB) to be held in Nantes, offering an exceptional platform for enriching exchanges and partnership opportunities.
The International Day of Forests was established on the 21st day of March, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2013. Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. The theme for International Day of Forests 2024 is Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World. To mark International Forest Day 2024, several CBFP partners have organised special activities.
In honor of International Women’s Day, TOP AFRICA NEWS had the privilege of Interviewing Rwanda’s Minister of Environment on the important role of women in environmental conservation and sustainable development. Join us as we delve into the Minister’s insights and initiatives in empowering women to be leaders in protecting our planet for future generations.
Almost 90% of the world’s forest loss is driven by the expansion of agriculture, thanks to growing consumer demand for commodities like coffee, cocoa, beef, soy, palm oil and timber. Because of this, governments, businesses and NGOs are increasingly targeting action to reduce deforestation in this sector. Several markets are developing policies that prohibit the sale or importation of products grown on deforested land, while hundreds of consumer goods companies have made zero-deforestation pledges.
The institutions and training centres that are partners in the ADEFAC project are receiving support to better integrate continuing vocational training into their training routines.Following the initial organisational assessments carried out by andragogues consultants, the ADEFAC project's technical team took it upon itself to carry out organisational assessments of the vocational training institutions and/or technical teaching establishments that are partners in the project.
With 8 months to go before the European Union's new anti-deforestation regulation comes into force, where do we stand? What progress has been made, and what concerns and questions does the timber industry have at this stage?
WASHINGTON (March 18, 2024)—World Resources Institute is pleased to announce that Sharan Burrow, Visiting Professor, Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics; Johannes van de Ven, Managing Director, Good Energies and Board Chair, WRI Brasil; and Cecilia Martínez, Former Director, UN-Habitat and Board Chair WRI Mexico have joined its Global Board of Directors.