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Background

The Republic of Congo holds nearly 22.334 million hectares of natural forests (FAO, 2015) – 65.4% of its territory – and 59,000 ha of planted forests. The country boasts one of the lowest deforestation rate in the Congo basin (0.07% - 211,410 ha/year net, for 2000-2014). Nevertheless, according to the FREL, greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation represent the largest source of national emissions (19,2 MtCO2eq/an in 2015). As a result, the country has great potential for climate change mitigation through reducing GHG emissions from the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector and increasing carbon storage in biomass.

Recognizing the importance of climate change, the Republic of Congo ratified the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on 21 April 2017. The country has submitted an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution that provides for a 48% (8 MteqCO₂) and 55% (19 MteqCO₂) reduction in its national emissions compared to the uncontrolled (or trend) development scenario of 2025 and 2035, respectively. In order to achieve its emission reduction targets, the Republic of Congo has set itself two main objectives:

1. Mitigating GHG emissions from the energy sector by controlling energy consumption while making greater use of renewable energy and combating deforestation and forest degradation
2. Maintain and even enhance the potential for carbon sequestration by forests through better management of the sector and reforestation.

The President of the Republic of Congo and the President of the French Republic, in his capacity as Chair of the CAFI Executive Board, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in September 2019 to protect the country's forests and accelerate the fight against climate change. It includes ambitious commitments that underline the country's particular willingness in this regard: non-conversion of High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) forests, setting a ceiling on the conversion of non-HCS/HVC forests (provisional ceiling set at 20,000 ha per year), protection and sustainable management of peatland areas so that they are neither drained nor dried out, and orientation of agricultural activities in savannah areas.

These commitments will be implemented through 8 objectives:

1. The definition and implementation of a land use planning policy focused on the sustainable use of land and natural resources
2. Improving land tenure security in rural areas
3. Strengthening the sound management and environmental and social control of activities impacting forest cover and biodiversity
4. The development of "zero-deforestation" agriculture
5. The implementation of strengthened forest governance
6. Improving governance in the mining, hydrocarbon and infrastructure sectors
7. Promotion of sustainable wood energy and renewable energies
8. Strengthening governance, multisectoral coordination and mobilization of funding.

Key Documents

CAFI Executive Board decisions related to R.Congo