Summit on the Three Rainforest Basins: what can we expect?

The main ambition of the summit is to establish global cooperation, particularly between southern countries, with a view to sustainable management of the rainforests of the Congo, Amazon and Borneo-Mekong Basins. The objectives are to contribute both to regulating and stabilizing the global climate and to economic development and the fight against poverty in the countries concerned.
 This cooperation should be confirmed by the signing of a treaty between the countries of the three rainforest basins, which will be the first brick of a platform for consultation and discussion on forest and climate issues. Furthermore, the adoption of a joint declaration on rainforests, climate and sustainable development will send a clear message to the upcoming Durban Conference on Climate Change (late 2011) and the Rio +20 Summit (June 2012).

Exchanges of "good practice"…

"For the summit to be successful, we are expecting sincere exchanges of experience between the various parties, from one continent to another ", says Carlos De Wasseige, regional coordinator for OFAC (Observatoire des forêts d'Afrique centrale). For instance, the policy of enforcing relatively high standards for forest concessions in several Congo Basin countries has enabled an increase in certified areas. This could inspire other continents, as could practices such as independent observations prior to the attribution of forestry permits and to monitor breaches in the field. For its part, Brazil will be able to explain how it succeeded in reversing its deforestation trend thanks to stringent political measures, including the creation of vast exclusive zones reserved for indigenous communities. Lastly, Asia will be able to talk about its timber industry, which gives forest products real added value.

... and of experiences

Obviously, all these successes will have to be fine-tuned and adjusted to each situation. Plinio Sist, a forest ecologist at CIRAD, points out that "acting on public policy is relatively easy for a strong, stable State like Brazil. But the measures taken by such a country in the Amazon would be more complicated to implement in central Africa or Southeast Asia ". Moreover, the timber industry, which performs so well in Malaysia and Indonesia, is a two-edged sword: it is far from blameless as regards the over-use of forests and illegal logging. What is more, the big industrial groups have a portfolio of operations ranging from timber processing to oil palm plantations, through paper pulp production. They therefore have a direct interest in converting forests to other uses, and make up a powerful lobby group that often goes against the interests of sustainable forest ecosystem management.

There is no one miracle solution for stopping deforestation. The summit will therefore be a good opportunity to compare and combine initiatives, commitments and actions with a view to making rainforests a lever for sustainable development.

REDD, a dirty word?

Carlos De Wasseige fears that things may become tense when it comes to talking about reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+), as the three basins are competing for the funds intended to enable countries to prepare for the mechanism. Alain Karsenty, an economist at CIRAD, adds that "the central African countries are complaining that some donor countries do not trust them, for fear of corruption, whereas they have already signed agreements with Brazil, Guyana or Indonesia ". For the Congo Basin countries, the summit will be a chance to remind the international community of their single proposal for REDD+, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change through COMIFAC (Commission des forêts d’Afrique centrale).

Summit of Heads of State and Government on the Three Rainforest Basins of the World
 29 May - 3 June 2011
 Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Unit's involvement

•   Alain Karsenty will be contributing to Forest Day, organized by CIFOR as a side event, on Saturday 4 June.
•   An exhibition organized by CIRAD will be open throughout the summit.