Conservation of the Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is a vast tropical sub-region of the African continent. It is home to an exceptional natural heritage where mankind and a rich biodiversity cohabit. The basin provides ecological services that are indispensable to living beings, such as provisioning and regulation. However, the acceleration of human activity is causing disturbances and damage that threaten the integrity and survival of ecosystems.
An African and global challenge
The tropical forest with the best carbon footprint
Tropical forests account for almost 52% of the world's forested area, containing 40-50% of terrestrial carbon. The forests of the Congo Basin provide ecological services on a global scale, sequestering around 49.36 billion tonnes of carbon, thereby limiting anthropogenic emissions, and therefore the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. At regional level, they help regulate the climate through evapotranspiration. At local level, they help maintain the hydrological cycle by controlling flooding.
The basin's resources
Understanding the Congo Basin ecosystem requires a systemic approach to apprehend the river basin and the forests and peatlands that comprise:
The Congo River is the largest river basin on the African continent, and the second largest in the world after the Amazon basin. Stretching 4,700 kilometers, it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. At its mouth, the river flows at a rate of 40,000 m³/s, making it the most powerful river in the world after the Amazon. The catchment area covers some 3.7 million km². The basin encompasses Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and finally the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which holds 63% of its surface area.
The Congo Basin is the world's second largest collection of tropical forests after the Amazon Basin. They cover 1.8 million km², almost half the surface area of the river basin. The forest massif extends over 6 Central African countries (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic). The area is home to over 10,000 plant species and some 425 mammal groups.
At the heart of these forests live more than 60 million people, who feed themselves through subsistence farming. This agriculture also meets the needs of 40 million people living in outlying urban areas. They also abound in natural resources, including certain minerals essential to the material needs of the economy. They also contribute to carbon sequestration.
Peat bogs are water-saturated areas containing a type of moss known as sphagnum moss, which forms a dense fossilized organic material known as peat. They emit methane, but sequester carbon in large quantities. The peatlands of the Congo Basin are the world's largest tropical peatland complex. They cover 167,600 km², and are located in the Cuvette Centrale between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to estimates, they account for 36% of the world's tropical peatlands and sequester 29 billion tonnes of carbon (29 MgC). This is equivalent to 28% of all the carbon sequestered in the world's tropical forests. Yet only 8% of the peatlands in the basin are located in protected areas. Changes in land use, particularly for fossil fuel extraction, could lead to a significant release of carbon accumulated in peatlands. Preservation of the basin's peatlands is crucial to prevent the release of this carbon into the atmosphere, and thus slow the effects of climate change at both African and global level.
The dangers of human pressure
The consequences of human activities are threatening the Earth system, including the ecosystems of the Congo Basin. Local populations practice slash-and-burn agriculture, which consists of burning fields or forest areas and then cultivating them temporarily. Other practices designed to meet the needs of local populations are contributing to sustainable soil degradation, compromising the integrity of biodiversity and accelerating the crossing of other planetary boundaries.
In this region, industrial agriculture, illegal timber harvesting and mining lead to deforestation. Some 44 million hectares of forest are under concession, representing around 8.3% of the total forest area in the Congo Basin. The African continent is estimated to account for 30% of the world's mineral reserves (diamonds, gold, coltan, etc.), with around 60% in the basin.
The Congo Basin Blue Fund
The Congo Basin Blue Fund (CBBF) is an African development fund that responds to climate issues on a continental and global scale. While aiming at regional integration and the well-being of populations, it finances projects based on the principles of green and blue economies in each of the countries involved in its governance. Based at the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), it is the programmatic and financial tool of the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC).
Towards a green and blue economy model
According to Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the green economy is "low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive". According to the World Bank, the blue economy makes "sustainable use of ocean resources to promote economic growth, improve livelihoods and generate jobs, while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem". This definition can be extended to rivers, tributaries and wetlands.
The Congo Basin has all the characteristics to apply these two innovative economic principles. To this end, the Congo Basin Climate Commission was created in 2018 to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development in the sub-region. It currently has 16 member countries, with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco. Its long-term objectives are to preserve the basin's ecosystem and contribute to the socio-economic development of its populations.
A model of African governance
The governance model of the Congo Basin Blue Fund (CBBF) is based on the primacy of African competence:
1. a mechanism created by 17 African countries
2. co-financed by them
3. a multi-country fund located in Africa
4. managed by African and international experts
5. to create a sustainable economic, social
and environmental model for Africa
Arlette Soudan-Nonault
Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin of the Republic of Congo, Technical Coordinator of the Congo Basin Blue Fund
The collegial governance of the CBCC is based on the consensus of the seventeen States involved, both at the level of the summit of Heads of State, which is the sovereign body, and of the executive committee composed of the Ministers of the Environment. 
Arlette Soudan-Nonault
Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin of the Republic of Congo, Technical Coordinator of the Congo Basin Blue Fund
The collegial governance of the CBCC is based on the consensus of the seventeen States involved, both at the level of the summit of Heads of State, which is the sovereign body, and of the executive committee composed of the Ministers of the Environment.
Arlette Soudan-Nonault
Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin of the Republic of Congo, Technical Coordinator of the Congo Basin Blue Fund
The collegial governance of the CBCC is based on the consensus of the seventeen States involved, both at the level of the summit of Heads of State, which is the sovereign body, and of the executive committee composed of the Ministers of the Environment.
Blue Fund projects
The Congo Basin Blue Fund projects are organised around three priority areas:
1. Sustainable development - environmental and socio-economic issues.
2.Climate - adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer.
3.Politics - regional integration.
Twenty-four sector-specific programmes are derived from these priorities. Their aim is to promote the climate transition
and the economy by leveraging two levers:
1. Technical capacity building.
2. Building financial capacity by mobilisation both private and public funding.
10 billion USD
of valorisation
of the project pipeline
3.6 billion USD
distributed across programmes sectors 5 (hydropower) and 10 (drinking water supply)
A factor for peace and regional integration
The effects of climate change in Africa tend to exacerbate existing social instability. According to Capelli et al (2022), within a 500km radius of areas experiencing long-term changes in rainfall and temperature, the risk of conflict is multiplied by 4 and 5 respectively. The socio-economic costs of more frequent climatic disasters on the continent could make some populations even more vulnerable. Beyond conflicts, the consequences of climate change in Africa could lead to massive migratory movements.
Sundeep Waslekar
President of Strategic Foresight Group India, member of the Brazzaville Foundation's advisory board and author of the CBBF pre-study in 2016
Through joint management, water could become a factor for peace and cooperation. If the Blue Fund achieves its objectives, it will help mitigate climate change, create new sources of employment linked to river-related activities, and promote collective security in a region marked by instability.
Sundeep Waslekar
President of Strategic Foresight Group India, member of the Brazzaville Foundation's advisory board and author of the CBBF pre-study in 2016
Through joint management, water could become a factor for peace and cooperation. If the Blue Fund achieves its objectives, it will help mitigate climate change, create new sources of employment linked to river-related activities, and promote collective security in a region marked by instability.
Sundeep Waslekar
President of Strategic Foresight Group India, member of the Advisory Board of the Brazzaville Foundation and author of the CBBF pre-study in 2016
View his profile
Through joint management, water could become a factor for peace and cooperation. If the Blue Fund achieves its objectives, it will help mitigate climate change, create new sources of employment linked to river-related activities, and promote collective security in a region marked by instability.
The Foundation's role
The Brazzaville Foundation initiated the creation of the CBBF. In 2016, its experts produced a pre-study, suggesting that the countries of the Congo Basin collaborate at the sub-regional level to preserve this exceptional ecosystem while inventing another development model. It is on the basis of this study that the CBBF was launched during the COP22 in Marrakech, at the initiative of H.E. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo, with the support of H.M. King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Caption: Launch of the Congo Basin Blue Fund initiative at the First African Summit for Action on Continental Co-Emergence at COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco in 2016, in the presence of Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo, and Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman of the Brazzaville Foundation.
At the first CBCC Heads of State and Government Summit in 2018, Mr. Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman of the Brazzaville Foundation, was appointed CBBF Goodwill Ambassador. Since 2016, the Brazzaville Foundation has provided technical support to the Fund, which was created in 2017 in Oyo, Republic of Congo, and formalised in 2018 with the creation of the CBCC.
Caption: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Oyo in the Republic of Congo in 2017 creating the Congo Basin Blue Fund, in the presence of H.E. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo, Prince Michael of Kent, Royal Patron of the Brazzaville Foundation, Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman, and representatives of government and private sector experts
The Foundation co-developed the CBBF's advocacy and marketing communication strategy and created the pavilion presenting the Blue Fund at COP26, from November 1 to 12, 2021 in Glasgow. Ahead of this international event, it organised a high-level online roundtable "From COP22 to COP26: The Congo Basin Blue Fund, an African and global challenge", under the auspices of the CBCC, on June 29, 2021.
Caption: Presentation of the principles and projects included in the Congo Basin Blue Fund at COP26, in the presence of H.E. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo and of the CBCC; H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mrs. Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin and Technical Coordinator of the CBCC; Mrs. Eve Bazaiba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mr. Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman of the Brazzaville Foundation
The Foundation co-developed the CBBF's advocacy and marketing communication strategy and created the pavilion presenting the Blue Fund at COP26, from November 1 to 12, 2021 in Glasgow. Ahead of this international event, it organised a high-level online roundtable "From COP22 to COP26: The Congo Basin Blue Fund, an African and global challenge", under the auspices of the CBCC, on June 29, 2021.
Caption: Presentation of the principles and projects included in the Congo Basin Blue Fund at COP26, in the presence of H.E. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo and CCBC; H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mr. Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman of the Brazzaville Foundation; Ms. Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin and Technical Coordinator of the CBCC; Ms. Eve Bazaiba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Fonds bleu partnership framework
Institutional support
Member countries of the Congo Basin Climate Commission
Kingdom of Morocco
Republic of Angola
Republic
of Burundi
Republic
of Cameroon
Central African Republic
Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic
of Gabon
Republic
of Guinea
Republic of Kenya
Republic of Uganda
Republic of Rwanda
Democratic Republic of Sao-Tomé-Et-Principe
Republic of South Sudan
United Republic of Tanzania
Republic
of Chad
Republic of Zambia
Blue Fund Goodwill Ambassadors
Appointed by the Heads of State and Government at the first CBCC Summit in April 2018:
- H.R.H. Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection
- Jean-Yves Ollivier, Founding Chairman of the Brazzaville Foundation
- Maria De Fatima Monteiro Jardim, former Minister of the Environment of Angola
- Lokua Kanza, musician artist
Technical and financial partners
Outlook
Strengthening advocacy: We continue to advocate for the preservation
of the Congo Basin at the international level.
Building capacity: We are working to build the capacity of the fund's stakeholders.
Outlook
Strengthening advocacy: We continue to advocate for the preservation
of the Congo Basin at the international level.
Building capacity: We are working to build the capacity of the fund's stakeholders.
Outlook
Strengthening advocacy: We continue to advocate for the preservation
of the Congo Basin at the international level.
Building capacity: We are working to build the capacity of the fund's stakeholders.
Documentary resources
- Date
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- Publishers
- Adiac Congo
- Agence Ecofin
- BBC Africa
- CBCC
- Cision
- Brazzaville Foundation
- Geneva Water Hub
- Huffington Post
- La Revue des Transitions
- La Tribune Afrique
- Le Journal de l'Afrique
- Le Soleil
- Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Congo
- Mint
- UN
- Paris Match
- Politico
- Strategic Foresight Group
- Tatler
- Telesud
- VivAfrik
- Supports
- Article
- Conference
- Interview
- Publication
- Op-ed
- Contributors
- Jean-Yves Ollivier
- HRH Prince Michael of Kent
- Olusegun Obasanjo
- Ilmas Futehally
- Dr Sundeep Waslekar
