The Congo Basin, the planet’s second green lung, is at the heart of a regional mobilization to reconcile conservation and economic development.
On August 28, 2025, in Douala, Dr Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, Gabonese Co-Facilitator of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (PFBC), opens the sub-regional consultation of stakeholders on the sustainable management of Central African forests, aimed at preparing a Joint Declaration for the sub-region’s participation in the COP 30 Climate Summit in Belém.
In her speech (pdf – 760 Ki), she emphasizes the immense ecological and social value of the Congo Basin: 300 million hectares of tropical forests, 75% of Africa’s biodiversity, and 40 million people directly dependent on these forests. She stresses that conservation and economic development must go hand in hand, supported by adequate, fair, and sustainable financing.
Dr Koumba Pambo calls for close dialogue between COMIFAC countries and their technical and financial partners to develop a strong common position, with clear funding priorities and appropriate instruments. She underscores the need to produce:
A 2025–2030 Joint Political Declaration, reflecting environmental ambitions and socio-economic aspirations,
A programmatic framework aligned with the COMIFAC Convergence Plan,
A governance and accountability framework to ensure the effective use of mobilized resources.
The PFBC reminds that protecting the Congo Basin forests is not only a regional priority but a global imperative. Dr Koumba Pambo calls for the active participation of all stakeholders: every voice, concern, and proposal must be considered to make this consultation the starting point of a new era for Central African forests.
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