CBFP best wishes for 2026

Dear CBFP members,

As we approach the festive season of 2025, we would like to express our gratitude to you. Throughout this year, your commitment, marked by your rich and varied contributions, has greatly strengthened the vitality of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP).

The year 2025 marks a turning point for the Congo Basin forests and our Partnership. More than ever before, CBFP has established itself as the essential platform for developing innovative solutions, promoting dialogue between stakeholders and mobilizing international support. With the organization of major events such as the scientific symposium in Cabinda in April, the conference on environmental crime and human-wildlife conflict in Libreville in July, and its participation in major regional and international meetings, the CBFP has been at the forefront of these developments.

Collectively, with the launch of the Belem Call to Action for Congo Basin Forests at CoP30 in Belem, we have made history. For the first time, Central African countries and international partners have jointly committed to a political declaration in favor of forests and their sustainable management. The strength of this mutual commitment, built under the aegis of French and Gabonese Republics Co-Facilitation with all CBFP colleges and regional institutions, has made it possible to reach a strong and unprecedented agreement after 15 months of consultations and negotiations. Thus, the mobilization of more than $2.5 billion will support, until 2030, efforts to preserve and sustainably manage the forests of the Congo Basin, in addition to national resources and concrete commitments that will be implemented by Central African countries.

We can collectively be proud of this excellent result, which has put the Congo Basin in the international spotlight.

The Belem Call must now be implemented, including through the establishment of a monitoring mechanism, which will be the mission of the next co-facilitation. We know that we can count on the commitment of each and every one of you so that we can already present concrete results at COP31.

The year 2026 will be an important one for our Partnership. Beyond the many international events (CoPs of the three Rio Conventions, UNFF21, etc.) where we will be able to showcase the CBFP's commitment, it will be important to maintain the spirit of collaboration and inclusiveness that has enabled us to achieve these successes. 

At the beginning of 2026, we will pass the torch to a new co-facilitation, to whom we already wish all the best.

We wish you a very happy holiday season and our best wishes for 2026.