Six Congo Basin countries — Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo — have presented strategic plans for carbon markets and climate finance in the forest sector. Developed with the support of the World Bank, the plans aim to turn the region’s vast forest wealth into a powerful driver of climate-resilient growth, sustainable development, and new green jobs.
These plans provide country-specific strategies, enabling each nation to credibly engage in global carbon markets and mobilize results-based financing. A particular focus is placed on countries with high forest cover and low deforestation rates, positioning forests as engines of sustainable development.
The plans also emphasize the need for stronger institutional coordination, fair benefit-sharing, and digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, in line with the Paris Agreement. While some countries, such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, already have pilot projects in place, others are in the early stages of preparation for integration into the global climate finance system.
More:
- WWF Expands a Network Of Hope – From Vienna To The Danube, From Schools To Forests
- The Primeval Forests of the Federation of BiH Among the Few in Europe
According to the World Bank, forests represent more than climate regulation — they are also a financial asset. The strategic plans demonstrate how countries can transform natural capital into concrete investments that generate revenue and resilience for local communities.
The plans support countries in aligning laws and national frameworks with the Paris Agreement, engaging the private sector and communities, attracting investment, and developing technical capacities. Special attention is given to the inclusion of Indigenous peoples and local communities in the process.
These strategic documents combine environmental protection, economic development, and job creation, enabling Congo Basin countries to shift from forest conservation policies toward forest-driven growth, opening a new era of climate finance in the region.
Energy portal
