As part of its PIPFAREF program, the NGO Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO) sets up Local Committees to fight against Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo

publié le 26-12-2023

The Integrated Forest Protection and Support Program for the Restoration of Forest Ecosystems (PIPFAREF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo aims to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and to sustainably improve the income of local communities including indigenous peoples, women and young people in the target areas of the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema. This is a program of the NGO Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO) which works in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the DRC and other local, provincial, national and international partners to:

1) Ensure the establishment of local committees to fight against deforestation and support the restoration of forest ecosystems in the context of climate change in the target areas of the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema in DR Congo.

2) Offer many alternatives to local committees and indigenous peoples in order to reduce pressure on forests, and take into account Resource Generating Activities proposed by local committees and indigenous peoples as alternatives to generate livelihoods to COLO / PA in order to reduce the pressure on the forest;

3) Create synergies with related projects in PIPFAREF intervention areas;

4) Ensure good coordination between actors of different levels of power (central, provincial and local) and at each level coordinate horizontally between different sectors;

5)Contribute to the development and implementation of forest policy in the provinces of South Kivu and North Kivu and Maniema;

6) Popularize the use of renewable energies among communities beyond the use of improved stoves;

7) Promote indigenous know-how in the implementation of PIPFAREF activities.

PIPFAREF stands out and highlights 3 major challenges:

A political issue focused on advocacy actions to be carried out for the improvement and implementation of forest protection policies in the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An economic and social issue that offers development opportunities to youth, women and indigenous populations who constitute an essential pillar for forest management and inclusive green development, especially in the targeted provinces.

An environmental issue because natural and biological resources, especially forest resources, provide environmental goods and services essential for survival. Not only do they generate jobs, but actions to reduce deforestation and forest degradation contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the Africa Coordinator of the NGO CCAO, Mr Trésor Badisungu: “PIPFAREF contributes to forging a global vision of development which takes into account both the protection of natural resources and particularly forest resources and the improvement of living conditions. populations for poverty reduction ”.