World Bank Approves GEF Project on REDD+ in the Congo Basin
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The World Bank approved a US$13 million project from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to strengthen the capacities of the Congo Basin countries on issues related to REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stock) and forest carbon stocks measurements.
The different project components will support the strengthening of dialogue on REDD+ across the Congo Basin countries with a specific focus on: learning and knowledge exchange between the political and technical levels; promoting inclusive participation and representation of stakeholder groups in policy and strategy discussions at the regional level; and building technical capacities for measurement and monitoring of carbon stocks in the Congo Basin forests.
The project will set up a scientific partnership for forest carbon measurement and monitoring; and elaborate specific algometric equations for the Congo Basin forests to enable countries to accurately report changes in forest carbon stock for a future results-based financial incentive system for REDD. The Congo Basin countries are: Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. [World Bank Press Release]
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