Africa: France, NGOs Pledge 100m Euro to Protect World's Tropical Forests

Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France and two non-profits would contribute 100 million euros to an "action plan" for preserving the world's tropical forests.

The pledge was announced at the end of the two-dayOne Forest Summitin Gabon that aimed to assess progress made since last year'sCOP27 climate conferenceand renew targets for the preservation and sustainable management of the world's forests.

"We understood the need to have cash on the table and concrete actions," Macron said in a speech on the first full day of afour-nation Africa tour.

The funding from France is part of a commitment to kickstart a mechanism that aims to reward countries that are scientifically proven to have protected their forests or restored them.

The Walton Foundation will contribute Ꞓ20 million and Conservation International Ꞓ30 million.

Mapping carbon reserves

Macron said the scheme would be underpinned by research to improve the understanding of forests' value by mapping carbon reserves, biodiversity and levels of carbon sequestration in the Amazon, Africa and Asia.

How Central African countries such asGabonmanage their share of the world's second-largest rainforest is critical.

非洲的所谓肺储存更多的碳per hectare than the Amazon, help regulate temperatures, and generate rain for millions in the arid Sahel and distant Ethiopian highlands.

Macron said the new mechanism would address a current issue with carbon credit schemes where countries like Gabon with relatively untouched forests are not compensated as well as deforested countries that are planting new trees.

"It's a bit absurd," he said.

Closing the summit, Gabonese President Ali Bongo expressed satisfaction with its outcome and the outlook for the next climate conference.

"We have put in place a sound plan that will make COP28 the success we wanted it to be."

(with wires)

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than100 news organizationsand over500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher areproduced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, pleasebeplay体育牌照.

Baidu
map