- The Congo and its tributaries are a vital resource for all the countries of the Congo Basin.
- The Basin holds 8% of the world’s forest-based carbon, so it also has a key role to play in helping to prevent global warming.
- The Blue Fund for the Congo Basin is a major sustainable development initiative designed to reduce the pressure to exploit the forests of the Congo Basin and thus mitigate the impact of global warming by promoting alternative economic development using the resources of the Congo River and its tributaries.
Environmental conservation
Climate Change
- Climate change can contribute to economic hardship and provoke conflict through drought, food insecurity and forced migration.
- Climate change is expected to have a greater impact on the African continent that anywhere else, yet Africa has so far received the smallest proportion of linternational funds committed to climate change mitigation.
Biodiversity loss & conflict
- Changes in biodiversity since the 1950s due to human activities have been more rapid than at any time in human history.
- Much of this loss has been drive by pressures such as population and economic growth and land-use changes.
- These pressures are anticipated to escalate as growing human populations put pressure on Earth’s finite resources.
- Half of global population growth during 2015-2050 will be concentrated in just nine countries, including several conflict-affected countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.
Brazzaville Foundation Approach
- Stimming the loss and conserving species will require co-ordinated international responses, inclusive solutions which engage the local communities, and support to increase the level of human societal development in a sustainable manner.
- The Foundation launched the Congo Blue Basin Fund and is developing a major cross-border conservation project in Central Africa.
