Fact Sheet
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Washington, DC
December 2, 2002
Congo Basin Forest Partnership: U.S. Contribution
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Purpose of Initiative: The U.S. contributions to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership will promote economic development, alleviate poverty, and improve local governance, through natural resource conservation programs. U.S. Partnership actions focus on eleven key landscapes in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo. The partnership provides support for a network of national parks and protected areas, well-managed forestry concessions, and creation of economic opportunities for communities who depend upon the conservation of the outstanding forest and wildlife resources of the Congo Basin.
Resources: A substantial portion of the United States Government investment in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership is through a $12 million per year increase within USAID’s Central African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE). The U.S. plans to invest up to $53 million dollars in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership through the year 2005. U.S.-based environmental NGOs have affirmed plans to significantly expand their conservation programs to eleven Congo Basin Forest landscapes that have been identified as critical to biodiversity conservation in the Congo Basin. The NGOs have committed to matching the U.S. Government’s contribution. Other Partners will provide significant additional contributions to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
Partners: Governments: the United States, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, South Africa, and European Commission. International Organizations: World Bank, International Tropical Timber Organization, and World Conservation Union. Civil Society: Jane Goodall Institute, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, World Resources Institute, Forest Trends, Society of American Foresters, American Forest & Paper Association, Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux-ATIBT, and the Center for International Forestry Research. The partnership will operate in an open and transparent manner. Participation and contributions to the CBFP activities are not limited to CBFP partners.
Partnership Efforts to Date: Secretary Powell launched the Congo Basin Forest Partnership at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg on September 4, and traveled to Gabon for the inauguration of Gabon’s national park system. The United States Government is working with domestic and international partners to prepare for the first international meeting since the launch of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership at the WSSD. This meeting in Paris, January 21-23, 2003, will provide Partners with the opportunity to exchange information about their respective programs, including details of specific contributions and resources committed to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership and opportunities for collaboration.
USG Points of Contact: Department of State: Jan McAlpine (Phone: 202/647-4799; E-mail: McAlpineJL@state.gov) and Christopher Ellis (Phone: 202/647-3078; E-mail: EllisCA3@state.gov), U.S. Agency for International Development: Franklin Moore (Phone 202/712-1863; E-mail: Fmoore@usaid.gov).
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