The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is a non-profit initiative to promote the conservation and responsible management of the Congo Basin's tropical forests. The project aims to improve the techniques and information sharing of involved organizations. It is led by the United States and sponsored by more than 40 international governments and investors.
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History
The CBFP was launched in September 2002 at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and African government leaders. It was built on the same framework as the Yaounde Declaration, whose stated aim is "to protect forests through the harmonization of forest policies, protected areas, regulations against poaching, and the adoption of practices for sustainable forest use".
The first meeting of the CBFP took place in Paris, France, in January 2003, and agreed on basic organizational principles, named a facilitator, recognized the Conference of Ministers of Forests of Central Africa as its central political, technical, policy, and decision-making guide, and recognized that Conference's "Plan de Convergence" as the framework for future actions of the CBFP.
In October 2003, the CBFP held a meeting that was open to the public in Yaounde, Cameroon, to discuss the policies and activities of the Conference of Ministers of Forests of Central Africa, which named a co-facilitator for the CBFP at the meeting.
On November 11 and 12, 2003, the Partnership met again in Yaounde to bring together the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), development partners, NGO's, international organizations, and private sector representatives.
On February 12, 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush approved The Congo Basin Forest Partnership Act.
The CBFP met in Douala, Republic of Cameroon on March 1 and 2, 2011. This was followed by a conference on September 13–16, 2011, in Douala on the theme "How can Community Control over Woodlands be Obtained and Maintained?" Meanwhile, on September 14, 2011, the Partnership met in Yaounde to discuss the implementation status of a road map, to examine major challenges in scientific research, and to update the facilitation working plan.
On November 15, 2011, delegates from eight central African countries met to create a new action plan to strengthen the enforcement of national wildlife laws.
The Congo Basin Forest Partnership was facilitated by the United States from 2003 to 2004, France from 2005 to 2007, and Germany from 2008 to 2009. It has no scheduled end date and will continue to operate as long as it receives enough funding.
Purpose
The stated goal of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership is "to promote the sustainable management of the Congo Basin's forests and wildlife by improving communication, cooperation, and collaboration among all the partners". Its objectives include the preservation of the ecology and biodiversity of the wildlife and forests, and making their use and protection sustainable for the long-term benefit of both the region and its inhabitants. In pursuit of this mission, the Partnership promotes economic development, the alleviation of poverty, effective governance by the conservation and sustained management of natural resources, including wildlife and forests, and the sharing of information between partners and associates.
The CBFP works closely with the Central African Forest Commission, the regional body in charge of forests and environmental policy, coordination and harmonization, with the objective of promoting conservation and sustained management of the Congo Basin's ecosystem. The CBFP's primary focuses are the protection and management of the natural resources required for economic and social development, forests, poverty eradication, biodiversity, an institutional framework for sustainable development, and changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production. Its secondary focuses are sustainable development for Africa, education, water, rural development, tourism, agriculture, and climate change.
Protected landscapes
Functioning
The CBFP is an international association comprising more than 40 governments, international and private sector organizations, and representatives of civil society. It is a non-binding partnership based on voluntary agreements between governments, the private sector, civil society and developmental organizations. The Partnership covers the geographical region of sub-regional Central Africa, mainly around the Congo Basin, and is implemented in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The CBFP works in accordance with COMIFAC's strategic plan, the "Plan de Convergence". Unlike most traditional partnerships, it does not create new institutions, but instead helps its partners and their associates to be more efficient. The CBFP is set to receive approximately $230 million U.S. dollars of funding over the course of several years.