Poster Wfc_bele Et Al. Final

Adapting Congo basin forest management to climate change Linkages among biodiversity, climate change and forest loss Youssoufa Bele , Denis Sonwa , Johnson Nkem and Zouliatou Nkakene 1

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Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) 2 Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon 1

For further information, contact [email protected] or go to CIFOR website at www.cifor.cgiar.org

Introduction

With 241 million hectares of forests, representing 46% of Africa forests and 37% of the world remaining tropical forests, Central Africa contains the second largest contiguous area of tropical moist forests on the planet (ADBG 2008). These forests play a strategically important role in regional, continental and global climate responses and regional development (Hoare 2007, Nkem et al. 2008). However, the role of forest and associated biodiversity in sheltering populations from the many projected impacts of climate change is not currently considered in decisions and long-term forest management plans in this region. As such, maintaining forest and associated ecosystem functions is an important component of adaptation to climate change.

Congo basin forests distribution

Congo basin forests

Methods

This work was based on the analysis of policy documents, press releases and websites related to sustainable forest management, climate change and biodiversity in the Congo basin.

Results

The analysis shows that in the Congo basin: • Pressures such as forest fragmentation, reduction in habitat, loss of biodiversity and the resulting adverse effects on forest-based communities are already proving difficult to manage. Climate change constitutes an additional burden that will limit development in countries in this region; they may fail to meet global targets for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring environmental sustainability. • Many countries have more pressing and more immediate needs than climate change such as poverty reduction and job creation. Their national policies are not focussing on preparing for the long term. • Biodiversity contributes to many of the essential goods and services upon which people of the Congo basin heavily rely, including provision of food and water, the control of climate and pollination. • Forests generate 75–95% of regional rainfall through evaporation and evapotranspiration (WWF 2007), compared to 50% in the Amazon basin and < 20% in Asian forests (Nkem et al. 2008). Evaporation from the Congo basin contributes about 17% of West Africa’s rainfall (Eltahir et al. 2004). • As a consequence, deforestation could cause a decline in rainfall as far away as North America and Europe (Feddema et al. 2005), and decline in water quality and quantity in the Congo River which possesses one-sixth of the world’s known potential for hydroelectric power (Maniatis 2007). • Carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation for the Central African region range from 20 to 60 million tonnes per year (WWF 2007) with selecting logging alone accounting for about 25–50% loss of stored carbon (The Rainforest Foundation 2007).

Congo basin countries

Identified need to undertake adaptation strategies

• Assess risk and vulnerability • Enhance the role of sustainable forest management in climate change adaptation • Enhance forest and biodiversity management to increase resilience and reduce risk and vulnerability • Mainstream climate change into forest management • Strengthen a sustainable financing mechanism • Support capacity development • Create local employment

Conclusion and recommendations

Considering the vulnerability of tropical forests to climate change (Locatelli et al. 2008), sustainable forest management in the Congo basin should include a climate change focus that has the potential not only to avoid any adverse effects on forest resources and conservation of biodiversity but also to provide opportunities for greater, more sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation through income generation and employment opportunities.

Eru leaves (Gnetum spp.)

References

Non-Timber Forest Products

African Development Bank Group (ADBG) 2008. Information note. International conference on financing mechanisms for a sustainable management of the Congo basin forest ecosystems. Tunis, 21–22 February 2008. CBFP 2006. The state of the Congo basin: State of the forest 2006. http://www.cbfp.org Eltahir, E.A.B., Loux, B., Yamana, T.K., and Bomblies, A. 2004. A see-saw oscillation between the Amazon and Congo basins. Geophysical Research Letters 31. Feddema, J.J., Oleson, K.W., Bonan, G.B., Mearns, L.O., Buja, L.E., Meehl, G.A., and Washington, W.M. 2005. The importance of land-cover change in simulating future climates. Science 310: 1674-1678. Hoare, A.L. 2007. Clouds on the horizon: The Congo Basin’s forests and climate change . The Rainforest Foundation. Locatelli, B., Markku, K., Brockhaus, M., Colfer, C.J.P., Murdiyarso, D., and Santoso, H. 2008. Facing an uncertain future: How forests and people can adapt to climate change. Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR, 100p. Maniatis, D. 2007. Ecosystem services of the Congo Basin forest, including a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Produced for the Global Canopy Programme. Nkem, J.; Santoso, H.; Murdiyarso, D.; Brockhaus, M. and Kanninen, M. 2007. Using tropical forest ecosystem goods and services for planning climate change adaptation with implications for food security and poverty reduction. Semi-arid Tropics (SAT) ejournal 1(4) http ://www.ejournal.icrisat.org Nkem J., Idinoba M., and Sendashonga C. 2008. Forests for climate change adaptation in the Congo basin: Responding to an urgent need with sustainable practices. CIFOR Environment Brief 2, November 2008. Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR. The Rainforest Foundation 2007. The Congo Basin’s forests and climate change. http://primeconcern.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/therainforest-foundation-action-alert/ WWF 2007. Climate change in the Congo River Basin. http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/congo_basin_forests/problems/climate_change/