Paris (France) - December 8, 2015 - the European Union pavilion was the setting for a high level side event hosted jointly by COMIFAC and the incoming (EU) and outgoing (USA) CBFP Facilitations.

This event focusing on the Congo Basin, the world's second largest forest area and  lung of Africa, brought together close to one hundred and fifty participants: ministers of COMIFAC member countries, representatives of UNFCCC funding mechanisms including among others, the Green Climate Fund, representatives of COMIFAC and ECCAS, representatives of international organizations, donors, civil society and the private sector.

The high-level side event aimed to present the strengths and challenges of Central African forests in the area of conservation, sustainable management, in the context of the fight against climate change. It was moderated by the incoming CBFP Facilitator,  His Excellency Mr. Josã Manuel Briosa e Gala, Special Adviser to His Excellency Mr. Neven Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for international cooperation and development.

During the first high-level political segment which was billed an introductory session, participants successively followed a lively and dynamic presentation by His Excellency Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for the Energy Union, a keynote speech by His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Minister of Water, Environment, Spatial Planning and Urban Planning of Burundi, Acting Chairman of COMIFAC and a statement by the representative of His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Allam-Mi , Secretary General of ECCAS, represented by the diplomatic and policy adviser of ECCAS.

A highlight of the side event, which served as a technical segment, was the presentation on the issue of sustainable management of Central African forests and the fight against climate change by Dr. Christopher Martius, Senior Scientist at CIFOR. Participants lauded the special report on forests and climate change in Central Africa presented by His Excellency Mr. Raymond Mbitikon, Executive Secretary of COMIFAC.

The last political segment will feature a high-level panel including the following panellists: Her Excellency Ms. Josephine Flora MISTOUL YAME, Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, Forests and the Sea, Dr Tao Wang, Director of mitigation and adaptation at the UNFCCC Green Climate Fund and Dr Alain Riss, Director of Sustainable Development at the French Development Agency (AFD).

In attendance at the side event from beginning to end were notable figures such as Her Excellency, the Minister of Water resources and Forests andHis Excellency, the Minister of Environment of the Central African Republic. 

At the close of deliberations, the side event moderator underscored the benefits and challenges of forest ecosystems in the Congo Basin and equally formulated some strong recommendations.

Pictures: Jérôme Nguefack, Marie Tamoifo Nkom

For more Information, please contact: 

Dr. Dany DOGMO POKEM

Communications and Liaison Manager - Technical Coordinator

For the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) /

E-mail: dany.pokem@pfbc-cbfp.org