Environmental groups are concerned about a forest protection agreement worth $500m (380m), signed by Boris Johnson at Cop26. This is after a damning report on the lawlessness of the logging sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Johnson signed the letter d’intent on behalf of the Central African Forest Initiative, (Cafi), for a 10-year agreement. Includes objectivesto preserve high-value forests, peatlands and other ecosystems. 32m of the 200m pledged by the UK to protect the Congo basin at Cop26 were given to Cafi out of the aid budget.
The DRC government published a long-awaited document at the beginning April. Audit of the country’s log industry. It was found that six successive ministers had illegally granted at least 18 logging concessions. This broke a nearly 20-year moratorium on industrial felling in the second largest rainforest in the world.
Operators have not paid more than $3m in royalties to the government due to a chaotic environment, according to the audit. This audit marks the first step of the audit. Deal between 12 donors and the DRC Signed on the first day at Cop26 in Glasgow to unlock $500m for the protection of the vast ecosystem.
Environmental groups claim that taxpayer money from the UK and France could be wasted if there is no action taken to stop illegal concessions. The moratorium on industrial logging will be lifted at the end this year.
The DRC environment ministry Issued a reviewAfter the audit, all forest concession contract contracts were found to be in compliance. Environmental groups demand suspensions and prosecutions.
Congo basin rainforest is known as the “lungs” of Africa. It is home to endangered forest gorillas, and is a massive carbon store. Rainfall can be sustained as far as EgyptIt is also home to About 80 million people. It absorbs about 4 percent of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions.
Irene Wabiwa Betoko is the Congo basin forest lead for Greenpeace. She said that the audit revealed a circus full of corruption, illegalities, and crimes against nature. Greenpeace Africa demands that all officials involved in plundering the rainforest be investigated and their immunity lifted where possible.
Global Forest Watch reports that the DRC is losing 490,000. hectares (1.2m) of primary rainforest despite the ban on new industrial logging.
Lord Goldsmith, minister of the international environment, visited the area last month after the DRC failed the first step of the Cop26 accord and published the audit at the beginning of January.
He stated that his trip was an opportunity to meet leaders in one the most important and biodiversity rich areas on Earth. The Cop26 leadership of Congo basin countries was very impactful. Both donor countries and Congo basin nations made big promises. He said that he was determined to keep those promises.
Cafi (the coalition of donor nations that made the $500m agreement with the DRC) welcomed the release of audit but stated that no money had yet been released. It released a statement to Guardian praising the publication of the DRC Inspection gnrale Des finances report on logging concessions. It also stated that it would continue to work with the DRC government to strengthen forest governance.
Cafi said that it remains committed to supporting DRC in order to ensure that the goals and commitments outlined by the 2021-2031 letter are met.
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