Paris, 8 April 2025
As part of the Paris International Conference on Environmental Crimes, a major side event was held on the theme: “The Congo Basin, on the fore-front fight against environmental crime.”
Organised by the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), this high-level exchange took place at the Ministerial Conference Centre, as part of the Second International Dialogue on Security and Development, co-organised by France and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
A joint France-Gabon move to tackle a global challenge
Co-chaired by Salina Grenet-Catalano and Dr Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, both CBFP co-facilitators for the French and Gabonese Republics, the event brought together some sixty hand-picked participants.
This highlight in environmental diplomacy shed light on growing threats to the world's largest tropical forest.
A region under pressure from environmental crimes
The Congo Basin is currently the scene of an alarming upsurge in illegal activities:
- Deforestation
- Precious wood trafficking
- Poaching of protected species
- Unregulated mining
- Illegal conversion of forest land
These practices seriously undermine conservation efforts, weaken local economies and accelerate deforestation, with direct repercussions for the global climate.
Towards a multilateral and multipartite response
Discussions underlined the urgency of a collective move at the regional same as at the international level. Among the enablers identified are:
- Interstate cooperation among sub-region countries;
- Judiciary and forestry capacity building;
- Implementing efficient surveillance mechanisms;
- Harmonising legislative frameworks to fight impunity.
Civil society actors, the private sector together with technical and financial partners have been acknowledged as crucial allies in this fight
An event in line with CBFP’s road map
The initiative fully aligns with the CBFP 2023–2025 road map, who dedicates a strategic part to the fight against environmental crimes. It promotes an integrated approach of sustainable forest management, combining resource protection, local development and climate resilience.
A Strong Message in Favour of Environmental Justice
By listing the stakes of the Congo Basin on the agenda of an international forum, the CBFP strengthens the visibility of Central Africa in global debates on environmental justice. This strategic positioning reminds us that the preservation of the Congo Basin is a global challenge which extends beyond regional borders.
About CBFP
The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is a platform gathering seven colleges, namely, governments, funders, NGOs, private sector, civil society and regional institutions all working together to sustainably preserve and manage Congo Basin forests.
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