At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), a major announcement was made by the United Kingdom: $11.7 million in funding has been provided to the Congo Basin Science Initiative (CBSI). The initiative aims to support the development of a regional network of scientists and build research capacity to protect the Congo Basin’s precious rainforests. The news was announced by David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, as part of the UK’s Congo Basin Forest Action (CBFA) programme.
This funding is of critical importance to CBSI, as it will not only fund research projects, but also train a new generation of scientists in the region to better understand the environmental changes taking place in this vast forested area. Professor Raphael Tshimanga, Co-Chair of CBSI, highlighted that this financial support will provide the teams with the opportunity to monitor the forests in their entirety and share their knowledge with decision-makers and the international community to preserve the Congo Basin.
The British Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Alyson King, highlighted the importance of this initiative to increase knowledge on vital ecosystems that are still little explored. This new research approach will allow local scientists to conduct large-scale studies to better understand the impact of human activities on the Congo Basin forests.
In collaboration with environmental authorities in Congo Basin countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, CBSI scientists aim to deepen knowledge on critical thresholds of deforestation and climate change in the region. Professor Simon Lewis, University of Leeds and Co-Chair of CBSI, highlighted the urgency of this research, saying that critical questions remain about a potential tipping point in the Congo Basin.
This UK funding represents the first major funding for CBSI since its official launch in October 2023 at the Three Basins Summit in Brazzaville. This announcement demonstrates the UK’s commitment to protecting the Congo Basin’s ecosystems and raises hopes that sustainable solutions will emerge to preserve this crucial area for global biodiversity.