Leaders from countries with the largest tropical forest basins are convening in the Republic of Congo on Thursday to collaborate on the protection of their forests from deforestation and destruction. This gathering, known as the Three Basins Summit, is taking place in Brazzaville and aims to establish a coalition of leaders from the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong basins. Their main focus is to explore financing options for safeguarding these wildlife-rich regions, which also serve as vital carbon dioxide storage sites contributing to the fight against climate change.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the three basins account for 80% of the world’s tropical forests and hold two-thirds of global biodiversity. However, these forests face immense pressure due to activities such as logging, forest degradation, loss of native species, and extreme weather events intensified by climate change. These factors jeopardize local economies and food security.
Despite efforts by governments and businesses to address deforestation, the problem persists worldwide. The Forest Declaration Assessment, a coalition of civil society and research organizations, revealed that 4.1 million hectares of tropical forest were lost to deforestation in 2022 alone. The majority (96%) of deforestation occurs in tropical regions.
Agriculture, including cattle ranching and smallholder farming, is the primary culprit behind forest loss in the tropics. Other factors include road expansion, fires, and commercial logging, resulting in the destruction and degradation of forests. Frequent wildfires in the Amazon and Indonesian rainforest, often ignited intentionally for land clearing purposes, contribute to this devastation.
In addition to deforestation, climate change has led to droughts and wildfires in forest regions. Just recently, the Brazilian government scrambled to provide food and water to territories surrounding the Amazon river suffering from severe drought exacerbated by El Nino and rising temperatures.
Each of the three basins has exhibited distinct trends over the years. The Amazon basin, the largest tropical forest basin globally, experienced an 18% increase in forest loss between 2021 and 2022, largely driven by Brazil. However, Brazil has since reduced deforestation in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, forest loss has substantially decreased in Indonesia and Malaysia and remained relatively stable in the Congo, as per analysis by the World Resources Institute.
Although numerous initiatives and commitments have been announced by countries to combat deforestation, progress has been slow. A planned meeting in Kinshasa between the leaders of Brazil, Indonesia, and Congo to discuss forest preservation earlier this year could not take place.
Forest experts emphasize that the three-day summit in Brazzaville represents a critical opportunity to secure funding and develop actionable plans for protecting and restoring vital forest ecosystems. Fran Price, global forest practice leader at WWF, urges governments to move beyond discussions and present concrete, accountable, and transparent strategies. She believes that all governments, as well as the private sector and civil society, must work together to change the current trajectory.
The summit is also seen as a chance to translate past commitments into initiatives and policies that truly make a difference. Emmanuelle Bérenge, sustainable forest management lead at the Rainforest Alliance, highlights the importance of transforming numerous pledges into actionable steps. Mikaela Weisse, director of Global Forest Watch, believes the gathering will contribute to the preservation of forests and the improvement of livelihoods for those who depend on them.
The protection of tropical forests is crucial to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. The summit could foster an inclusive coalition where Indigenous Peoples and local communities are valued, enabling countries to learn from one another and implement effective deforestation reduction strategies.
This summit marks the second meeting in 12 years where governments and other stakeholders in the basin regions have come together to collaborate in safeguarding their resources.
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