Congo Basin Forest Partnership : NGOs Seek Harmonisation of Operations

On the heels of the expert meeting on the follow up of the N’Djamena conference, was a day dedicated to the civil society during which NGOs involved in the conservation of the Congo Basin Forest sought ways of harmonising their actions on the field for a greater impact. Presiding at the opening ceremony, Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo, said with the partial destruction of the Amazon forest by wildfires, the Congo Basin forest, the second lung of the world, is of utmost importance in preventing global warming. He said with the bottom to top system of governance, NGOs play the role of relay channelling the concerns of the riverine population to government. He urged the NGOs to encourage income generating activities so as to reduce the carbon imprint on the forest.
The Facilitator of the CBFP and Belgian minister of State, Francois-Xavier de Donnea, said dialogue between government and the civil society is indispensable in the conservation effort. He said the civil society should play the role of a whistle blower and also make concrete proposals.
Other speakers included the Congolese minister of Forest Economy, Rosalie Matondo, urged participants to adhere to the ‘Brazzaville road map’ as the instrument on its implementation is already o...