The United States and Congo signed a cooperation agreement on November 27, 2019. As part of this partnership, the U.S. government has committed to making $25 million available to Congo to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of forest resources and, more broadly, the implementation of public environmental policies.
Supporting biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of forest resources and developing entrepreneurship in the green economy sector are the three main objectives of the United States’ recent financial support to the Congolese government. A five-year agreement was signed to this effect on November 27, 2019 in Brazzaville between U.S. Ambassador Todd Haskell and the Congolese minister responsible for Planning, Statistics and Development. According to the U.S. Ambassador to Congo, “this agreement will contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 2018-2022 National Development Plan”.
In its projections, the United States plans to invest in Congo to support the fight against deforestation and poaching. Over the past five years, they have invested $125 million, particularly in the sustainable management of natural resources. The United States thus completes the list of donors committed to financing Congo’s protected areas, in particular the European Union, which finances the Programme of Support for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Fragile Ecosystems of Central Africa.
Congo wants to remain the best student in terms of non-deforestation
Congo’s deforestation rate is the lowest in the world (0.08%). Nearly 65 per cent of the country’s territory is made up of forests that the country has constantly protected. For example, it wishes to set up secure investment mechanisms for the conservation and improvement of sustainable management of protected areas.
A workshop was held for this purpose the 27th of November 2019, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Protected areas cover nearly 13% of the national territory and play a key role in the preservation of fauna and flora. A few months earlier, this Central African country set up a national green climate fund to facilitate the financing of initiatives to combat and adapt to climate change, including projects related to the conservation and protection of natural ecosystems.
Luchelle Feukeng
