Congolese President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi advocated for fair and sustainable compensation for the ecosystem services provided by tropical forests during a round-table discussion held on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which opened on November 11 in Antalya, Turkey.
The head of state highlighted the essential role of the Congo Basin forests in regulating the global climate, asserting that their contribution to environmental balance must be better recognised and
valued through appropriate financing mechanisms.
He also called for ensuring that indigenous peoples and local communities have direct access to climate finance, with particular attention given to women and youth.
Furthermore, Félix Tshisekedi reaffirmed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) support for the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF), while emphasising the need to ensure equitable representation for forest-rich nations within its governance structure.
The Congolese president also presented the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor project, which spans approximately 540,000 km².
This initiative focuses on ecosystem restoration, the development of agroforestry, job creation, and the strengthening of national cohesion.
Through these initiatives, Kinshasa aims to bolster the mobilisation of international funding for the protection of the Congo Basin forests and the communities that depend upon them.
DM/te/Sf/fss/as/APA