The 3rd Regional Conference of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the Congo Basin, focusing on forest protection and community rights, began in Libreville, Gabon, on October 28, 2026. The conference, jointly organized by Greenpeace Africa and the Gabonese NGO Brainforest, brings together over 50 actors from six countries in the Congo Basin. The event aims to address the alarming rate of deforestation, environmental crime, and unsustainable extractive activities threatening the region's forests.
The conference, themed "A Resilient Congo Basin: Forests, Populations, Finances, and Nature," will run until October 29, 2026. Participants include representatives from civil society, indigenous peoples, local communities, experts, and sectoral administration officials. The conference seeks to find a balance between protecting the environment and promoting socio-economic development for indigenous peoples and local communities. Key priorities include strengthening forest governance, ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples, and facilitating access to climate and biodiversity financing.
According to the organizers, the situation in the Congo Basin is alarming, with deforestation, environmental crime, and unsustainable activities posing significant threats to the region's ecological integrity. The Congo Basin is considered the second-largest global lung and is crucial for climate regulation and the survival of millions of people. The conference aims to develop recommendations and priority actions to address these challenges.
The conference has four main priorities: strengthening forest governance and regional cooperation, guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, promoting adapted conservation, and facilitating access to climate and biodiversity financing. The event is taking place ahead of two major global events: the COP17 on biodiversity, scheduled to conclude on October 30, 2026, in Yerevan, and the COP31 on climate, set to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026.
Gabon's Minister of Water and Forests, Maurice Ntossui Allogo, officially launched the conference, emphasizing the importance of formulating precise recommendations and defining priority actions. He also highlighted the need for the Congo Basin region to unite and promote its priorities on the international stage, protecting its forest ecosystems and guaranteeing the rights of local populations.
The conference is expected to produce concrete outcomes, including recommendations and priority actions to address the challenges facing the Congo Basin. The event has brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from civil society, indigenous peoples, and local communities, as well as experts and sectoral administration officials. The participation of high-level officials, including the Minister of Water and Forests, underscores the importance of the conference.
The 3rd Regional Conference of CSOs of the Congo Basin is a critical platform for stakeholders to discuss the region's ecological challenges and develop solutions. The conference's outcomes are expected to contribute to the global discussions on biodiversity and climate change, particularly in the lead-up to the COP17 and COP31 events. The event has demonstrated the commitment of stakeholders to protecting the Congo Basin's forests and promoting sustainable development.
Key points
- The conference aims to strengthen forest governance and regional cooperation to address the alarming rate of deforestation and environmental crime in the Congo Basin.
