07/02/2005 – The signing
of Africa’s first ever region-wide conservation
treaty, and an agreement to protect over
seven per cent of the Congo Basin forests
are historic milestones for the future of
the world’s second largest rainforest, according
to WWF.
The treaty, signed by Presidents from Central
Africa during the Second Heads of State
Forest Summit — held from 4–5 February 2005
in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo — legally
recognizes the Central African Forests Commission
(COMIFAC) as the only decision-making body
on forests for the Central African Region.
In addition, a trilateral agreement signed
between Cameroon, Gabon, and Congo will
protect 14.6 million hectares of forests
including Dja, Odzala and Minkebe National
Parks, the equivalent of 7.5 per cent of
the entire Congo Basin.
“The treaty and the TRIDOM agreement will
help Central African countries cooperate
across borders in protected areas management,
to tackle poaching and the illicit bushmeat
trade, as well as illegal logging,"
said Dr Claude Martin, WWF International
Director General.
"These activities are particularly
detrimental for the livelihood and culture
of the local pygmy communities.”
Also signed at the Summit was an accord
allowing free movement of park staff between
Cameroon, Central African Republic, and
Republic of Congo in the Sangha Tri-National
Conservation Area. This means that park
staff can work across international borders
to fight poaching and illegal logging.
“These agreements mean that park staff
no longer have to watch helplessly as poachers
in one country escape across the river into
another,” Martin added. “Central Africa
is a model for the entire world on how to
reach across borders to tackle the tough
issues that are threatening wildlife, forests,
and the livelihoods of local communities.”
However, with the exception of the €40
million pledged by the European Union, no
new commitments on additional funding for
conservation in the Congo Basin have been
made so far.
“WWF hopes that the international community
will be able to mobilize the necessary funds
to implement the Treaty,” said Laurent Some,
WWF's regional representative in Central
Africa.
NOTES:
• The ten countries to sign the regional
treaty include: Republic of Congo, Cameroon,
Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea,
Chad, Sao Tome and Principe, Rwanda, and
Burundi.
• The Brazzaville Summit is the follow-up
to the 1999 Yaounde Summit, hosted by President
Paul Biya of Cameroon and co-chaired by
WWF President Emeritus Prince Philip.
