03.03.2023
This week the One Forest Summit was held in Libreville. ATIBT participated in the discussions of the first pillar of this meeting on innovative finance, and the second pillar on sustainable management.
We will publish next week a more detailed article on the highlights of the One Forest Summit. In the meantime, as the team that went to Libreville is on its way back, here are a few insights on these two days of dialogues.
On Wednesday, March 1, a discussion on sustainable management in relation to markets, facilitated by ATIBT, was held during the morning. On the table: the domestic timber market in Central African countries, as well as the need to promote it with fiscal measures.
In addition, during a roundtable on sustainable financing mechanisms, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) presented its report proposing recommendations for the development of biodiversity impact carbon credits and nature certificates. While there are many challenges ahead, both in terms of methodology and the market for these credits, work and testing are needed to move forward. This was emphasized by Gabon's Minister of Water and Forests Lee White. Let’s not forget in these developments sustainable forest management.
Another essential roundtable, concluded by the Minister of Forest Economy of the Republic of Congo Rosalie Matondo, addressed the issue of timber traceability and existing tools. It was not only a question of the recent inscriptions of tropical species in Appendix II of CITES, but also and especially of the confidence of European markets for African forest products.
As a reminder, ATIBT had published earlier this week, in view of the One Forest Summit, a press release on biodiversity certificates.
Biodiversity certificates: an opportunity for tropical forests?
