UK and Gabon commit to support the conservation and sustainable management of forests
UK Minister for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment, Lord Goldsmith is in Libreville for 2 days to attend the One Forest Summit.
The Summit is an opportunity for the UK and international partners from 3 continents to advance and renew their collective ambition regarding the conservation and sustainable management of the Amazon, the Congo basin and the tropical forests of South East Asia often considered as the heart and lungs of the planet.
International collaboration and coordination between donors and regional countries is paramount to reversing forest and biodiversity loss and promoting sustainable development, and the UK is taking a leading role as Chair of the Central African Forest Initiative and co-chair of the Donor College within the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
The UK will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Gabon, where both parties will agree to shared priorities in the context of the climate ambition and commitments made at COP26.
Further engagements will include high-level meetings with heads of state, government officials, as well as other public and political stakeholders on how to promote the emergence of tangible solutions for a transition to a low-carbon economy, for climate change adaptation and for the protection of biodiversity.
Minister Goldsmith said:
I am delighted to be attending the One Forest Summit on behalf of the UK. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with our partners from across the globe to reaffirm the climate commitment made at COP26 to protect the Congo Basin forests and peatlands.
Background
The UK supports the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) 2017 to 2030 and is committed to contributing to the achievement of the Global Forest Goals (GFGs). The UK is playing a leading role in supporting other international forest-related commitments and goals, including the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, and actions to address climate change under the Paris Agreement.
While the UK has made commitments as a financial partner of countries in the Congo Basin region, including contributing to the 1.5 billion US dollars Congo Basin Pledge, the government of Gabon submitted an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in July 2022 committing to an ambitious target for absorption of CO2, conditional on international support.
The UK government continues to support the long-term sustainability of forests, both at the national and international level.