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COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE- R2FAC_2.pdf

The Research Network on Central African Forests (R2FAC) was established pursuant to one of the recommendations of the Meeting of Parties of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) held in Douala, Cameroon, in March 2012 to establish an operational and efficient network of institutions working in the forest research sector of the COMIFAC region, and also in compliance with the Convergence Plan 2012-2014 and 2015-2025.

Douala, 30 September 2019,- Fourteen academic institutions working in all the member States of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) launched the new “Research Network on Central African Forests (R2FAC)” whose overarching goal is to promote, through research and development activities, sustainable management of the environment and Central African forest ecosystems at a time when they are facing mounting anthropogenic and climate pressure.

The Research Network on Central African Forests (R2FAC) was established pursuant to one of the recommendations of the Meeting of Parties of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) held in Douala, Cameroon, in March 2012 to establish an operational and efficient network of institutions working in the forest research sector of the COMIFAC region, and also in compliance with the Convergence Plan 2012-2014 and 2015-2025.

“The network’s focus will be environmental and forest research applied to ecosystems and forest landscapes at large, i.e. Including a prominent ligneous component encompassing the savannas, agro-forests and much more” stressed Dr. Alfred NGOMANDA, Director of Gabon’s Tropical Ecology Research Institute (IRET).

During the network’s launch workshop which took place from 27 to 28 September at the Falaise Hotel in Bonanjo, Douala, respective partners of the network elected their leaders and outlined goals and activities to be conducted over a two-year period.

Mathurin TCHATAT of the Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD) was appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee,  while Mr. Alfred NGOMANDA of Gabon’s Tropical Ecology Research Institute (IRET), Tolérant LUBALEGA of the National Institute of Agronomic Studies and Research of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (INERA), Denis SONGWA of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Vivien ROSSI of the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) were selected by consensus from the assembly to serve as members of the organizing and coordinating unit

“The network will help us to learn more and together find solutions to better manage the Congo Basin forests” says Richard EBA’A, regional coordinator of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). “We hope our efforts will help propel the Congo Basin into the field of  forest research,” concludes the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mathurin TCHATAT.

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