DR Congo president says ‘protecting tropical forests shared responsibility’

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi called for shared responsibility in protecting tropical forests and sustainable compensation for their ecosystem services.

Tshisekedi made the remarks Wednesday at a roundtable devoted to forests at the ongoing 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

He said Congo holds a conviction that “protecting tropical forests is a shared responsibility; bearing the cost of doing so must become a shared commitment.”

Noting the need for climate finance that directly benefits Indigenous peoples and local communities, the president urged fair, predictable and sustainable compensation for the ecosystem services provided by tropical forests.

He mentioned the need for an international commitment commensurate with the environmental challenges and underlined the major role played by Congolese forests in regulating the global climate.

The president highlighted the country’s initiatives in support of ecological transition, notably the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor, a community-oriented protected area of approximately 540,000 square kilometers, intended to promote ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, job creation and the consolidation of peace and national cohesion.

The 12-day summit, which runs until Nov. 20, drew world leaders, business representatives and civil society to discuss global climate action.

The summit has provided African countries with a platform to push for climate support that can address their growing vulnerability to extreme weather events.