The EU has committed €20 million to protect forests, support biodiversity conservation, and combat illegal wildlife trafficking in the Congo Basin.
During the 18th Meeting of the Parties of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) in Brussels, the EU signed four projects for the benefit of countries situated in the Congo Basin: Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon and Gabon. The projects address charcoal trafficking in Virunga National Park and the protection of Lake Edward in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the protection of the Dzanga Sangha Park in Central African Republic and the fight against wildlife and forest crime in the region.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: ”The EU is and remains strongly committed to conserving biodiversity, as well as combating illegal wildlife trafficking and tackling deforestation in the Congo Basin. The four new EU projects, with additional funding of €20 million, will bring economic benefits to local populations while protecting a unique ecosystem.”
A fifth contract will be signed in the coming days on landscape management between the DRC and the CAR. The project will also enhance conservation, security and development and enhance the support for refugees.
Original source: European Commission
Published on 29 November 2018
