Congo Basin Day: Mobilizing the regional and international community to preserve the Congo Basin’s forests for Climate, Nature & People
On the 18th of November during the Congo Basin Day @ Forest Pavilion, 8 sessions were organised for stakeholders and participants to get a full picture of the challenges and opportunities for the Congo Basin’s preservation.
The protection, sustainable management and restoration of forests are essential elements of a viable pathway to achieving the international community's 1.5-degree goal as set by the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015.
With an annual absorption of around 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, representing approximately 4% of global emissions, Central Africa is one of the regions in the world with the most positive differential between carbon removals and emissions, with a net flux of around 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The region has a sequestered carbon stock of around 60 billion tonnes, 30 billion of which is found in its peatlands, including the world’s largest tropical peat swamp forest complex. These forests are also the world’s most efficient carbon-capturing ecosystem.
The forests of the Congo Basin are therefore of crucial importance to the region and the world. If we want to reach the climate, global biodiversity and sustainable development goals, we must all work harder to ensure the protection of these ecosystems.
UNFCCC COP30 was a unique opportunity to give the stakeholders of the Congo Basin Forests a voice. On 18 November, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Forest Pavilion shined the spotlight on this natural treasure. The Congo Basin Day, organised by the CBFP with the support of CAFI, brought together hundreds of delegates across eight sessions to discuss the challenges and opportunities of preserving the Congo Basin.
Speakers from a variety of backgrounds (including governments, regional institutions, scientists, civil society representatives, IPLCs, NGOs, the private sector, philanthropists, banks and think tanks) engaged with the audience with constructive debates on how to sustainably use and protect the Congo Basin forest ecosystems for the benefit of the climate, nature and people.
The day ended with a high-level event presenting the Belém Call to Action for the Congo Basin Forests which brought together several ministers from the region and representatives of numerous donors who are committed to raising more than $2.5 billion over the next five years, in addition to the national resources that will be mobilized by Central African countries to protect and sustainably manage the forests of the Congo Basin.
During this special day for Congo Basin Day, an Immersive experience was proposed to the participants to show the magic of the Congo Basin through an amazing audio-visual session with sensory cues featuring footages of one of the wonders of the world including its rich biodiversity and cultural diversity.
Find the full program of the Congo Basin Day on the Forest Pavilion website at this link.
Watch the replay of all the events organized on the Forest Pavilion during the Congo Basin at this link.
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