15. Africa

Abstract

International funding remains essential in Africa. In this context, the resounding success at the international level of the Central African Forest Commission’s participation at the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 12 November, under the theme Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change, ‘is historically unique and now worthy of celebration in many ways, not least because the intended Fair Deal alliance has become a reality and a start has been effectively made through donor engagement.’ This ‘Fair Deal’ means, on the one hand, good forest governance, and, on the other hand, fair payment for the ecosystem services of the Congo Basin forests in the Global Climate Budget. It recognizes the fair share of funding and political commitment to Congo Basin ecosystems, commensurate with their overall value in terms of biodiversity and carbon sinks.