WWF promotes Sino-African green development, contributes to China and Gabon forestry agreement

Posted on 4 septiembre 2019

WWF welcomes expansion of sustainable forestry in Congo Basin.

On 4 September, 2019, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China and the Ministry of Water and Forestry in Gabon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on forestry to establish long-term and stable cooperation channels, promote sustainable forest management, combat illegal timber logging and other related trades, and develop Gabon's forestry industry.

Gabon's rich tropical rainforest resources are extremely crucial to the balance of the global ecosystem and the development of community livelihoods. Gabon is also a key investment country for China's forestry industry, with Chinese companies operating more than 6 million hectares of woodland in Gabon, accounting for more than half of the commercial logging areas in the country. Chinese companies' investment in Gabonese factories has also increased in recent years. Meanwhile, the issue of promoting sustainable management of forests has become a hot topic.

"As one of the world's largest conservation organizations, WWF is committed to promoting the inclusion of environmental and social sustainable development goals in China's foreign investments and trade processes," said Zhou Fei, Chief Program Officer of WWF China, “We want to take this opportunity to continue to support long-term and fruitful cooperation on forestry between China and Gabon, by encouraging Chinese enterprises to make more positive contributions to Gabon's sustainable forest management activities."

Over the past ten years, WWF has carried out policy advocacy and demonstration projects in China and ten African countries such as Gabon, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, to promote Sino-African cooperation on sustainable development.

The development of the forestry sector is an important component of green development in Africa. WWF believes the signing of MoU will help the Ministry of Water and Forestry in Gabon attract foreign investment to promote forestry industry development and sustainable forest resources operation, and help Chinese authorities encourage Chinese enterprises to carry out forest sustainable operation activities in an orderly manner with a standard management in Gabon.

Minkebe Forest, Gabon.