Libreville, 17 June 2025 – The Scientific and Academic College (CSA) of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is holding a strategic working meeting today to finalize scientific contributions to the upcoming CBFP International Conference, scheduled to take place in Libreville from 10 to 11 July 2025.
The session opened with welcoming remarks and a round of participant introductions. Following the adoption of the agenda, Dr. Dany Pokem, CBFP Technical Coordinator, officially kicked off the discussions with a comprehensive presentation of the Libreville Conference programme, providing a framework for upcoming activities.
Activities Leading Up to the Conference:
- 7–8 July: Launch meeting of the CRAFT Project (CBSI)
- 8 July: EdAP2025 Day on the state of protected and conserved areas in Central Africa, co-organized by CIRAD, OFAC, and COMIFAC
9 July – Science Day:
- Training on science-policy communication strategies (CSA/RFICS)
- CBSI Steering Committee meeting
- Presentation of the 2025 Congo Basin Assessment Report by the Scientific Panel
- National science-policy dialogue session (RIFFEAC/RFICS)
- Presentation of the Congo Basin Forests Pact
- Release of the “State of the Forests” Report (CIFOR/OFAC) and progress update on the RESSAC mechanism
During the Conference (10–11 July):
- Official science-policy dialogue session between the Donor College and the Scientific and Academic College
Key Highlights of the Meeting
Discussions provided an opportunity to assess the state of preparations and revisit key decisions made during the previous meeting on 24 March 2025. Notable highlights included:
- The progress of the State of the Forests report drafting by OFAC.
- The science-policy dialogue scheduled for 9 July will bring together representatives from ECCAS, COMIFAC, ministerial advisors, and regional scientists to address pressing issues such as environmental crime, human-wildlife conflict, and sustainable finance.
- The CSA’s coordinated participation in the IUCN World Congress in Abu Dhabi was discussed, with support for a shared stand to enhance research visibility.
- Regarding COP30 in Belém, members emphasized the importance of strengthening African scientific presence and ensuring effective coordination around the PFBC-COMIFAC Pavilion.
- Momentum continues around the Congo Basin Pledge 2.0, along with broader reflections on innovative forest financing mechanisms.
- The Science Panel for the Congo Basin (SPCB) reiterated that its first assessment report is expected by the end of 2025 and launched a call for expert contributions from the region.
Several complementary initiatives were also shared, including:
- The revival of the “Scientific and Technical Journal on Forests and Environment in the Congo Basin” (RIFFEAC), with support from Laval University and AFD
- An upcoming scientific writing workshop organized by R2FAC
- Progress in the CBSI fellowship programme, which has received over 500 applications
Next Steps
Today’s meeting has significantly reinforced coordination around the scientific agenda for the 9 July Science Day in Libreville. Participants emphasized the importance of synergies among initiatives, structured inter-college dialogues, and the central role of science in forest governance across the Congo Basin.
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