Fatshimétrie, October 25, 2024 – Civil society organizations and indigenous peoples in the Democratic Republic of Congo are joining forces to raise awareness among international donors and NGOs about the crucial importance of preserving biodiversity in the country. In an advocacy note full of determination, they call for the creation of specific funds to support innovative projects adapted to local realities, based on the model of the Okapi funds and community funds for forests.
The publication of this note, on the sidelines of the conference on biodiversity in Cali, Colombia, highlights the urgency of taking action to address the challenges facing indigenous communities in terms of environmental conservation. Their remarkable efforts deserve to be recognized, supported and secured to ensure the preservation of their territories in the face of increasing pressures linked to galloping demography, illegal exploitation of natural resources and the growing threats of climate change.
Financing biodiversity in the DRC faces major obstacles, requiring innovative and integrated solutions. The experts are calling for a participatory and inclusive approach in fund management, involving the government, donors, the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the private sector. They are also encouraging the private sector to adopt sustainable and responsible practices, while promoting public-private partnerships for biodiversity conservation.
While the Democratic Republic of Congo is full of diverse ecosystems that are conducive to the development of ecotourism, it suffers from the lack of a financing mechanism dedicated to biodiversity, such as the Green Climate Fund. Environmental organizations are emphasizing the urgency of filling this gap in order to respond to the global, regional, national and local challenges related to the preservation of Congolese biodiversity, one of the richest in the world.
Environmental defenders are calling on the government to establish a framework that is favorable to access to international funding, while encouraging conservation initiatives at the national level. The DRC, with its vast rainforest and exceptional biodiversity, has immense potential to become a major player in global conservation. There is an urgent need to act, mobilize the necessary resources and support local communities committed to preserving this incredible natural heritage.