Key policies and governance approach

The 2002 Forest Code sets out the law applicable to the conservation, exploitation, and development of forestry resources in DRC. In 2001, the Forest Working Group (Groupe de Travail Forets (GTF)) was created with the objective of contributing to the improvement of forest governance. GTF works in the areas of advocacy for sustainable natural resource management, forest governance monitoring, community conservation, and community development for forest populations. GTF has been active in popularization of the forest code, the legal review of forest concessions, and strengthening local community capacity [3].

Another important institution in the forest sector is the Federation of Wood Industry (Fédération des Industriels du Bois (FIB)), a federation of companies working in the forest sector in the DRC. The FIB works in collaboration with several partners in the DRC to supervise industrial forest concessionaires, such as the collaboration that the FIB maintains with the International Technical Association of Tropical Timber (ATIBT) [3]. In 2020, driven by the wish to improve forest sector governance in DRC, the FIB and the National Coalition against illegal logging (CNCEIB), a merger of organizations and environmental civil society networks, signed a memorandum of understanding to take part in forest governance improvement [6].

The DRC demonstrates political commitment to REDD+ at the national level as well as internationally within the framework of the UNFCCC. The DRC has put in place the national REDD+ infrastructure. Significant progress includes, inter alia, a national consensus on the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation; adoption of the National REDD+ Strategy by the Council of Ministers; the establishment of the National REDD+ Fund (FONAREDD) in April 2016;  the revision of the National REDD+ Investment Plan 2015-2020, which has become the basis for allocating resources; and the finalization of REDD+ safeguard instruments, namely the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) [1].  

Successes and Remaining Challenges

In July 2021, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba announced plans to lift the 2002 moratorium, due to its ineffectiveness in stopping the proliferation of illegal logging. The environment ministry's plan to lift the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions has dismayed environmental groups and scientists, who have warned of catastrophic environmental, social and climatic impacts. The European Union's ambassador to DRC has signalled openness to the government's plan, saying that it represented a "desire to regain control" of the forests [7].

The forestry sector suffers from the same institutional shortcomings as other sectors. The main challenges relate to the general weak level of institutional and technical capacities in DRC. While human activities are certainly a threat to the country's forests, weak governance and the limited capacity and institutional mechanisms to limit deforestation and enforce regulations remain a challenge [1]. The public administration in the DRC has historically suffered from corruption and abuse of authority, and a large number of civil servants have limited resources and training [2].

In addition, forest management in the DRC mainly focuses on the fight against deforestation. This focus is urgent and logical and attracts donors and climate funds. However, other forest management such as conserving and maintaining forest health lacks support.

Also, there is a lack of national digital information on national forestry, properties and biodiversity. The identification, enhancement and communication of forest data are reserved for a small number of actors. However, this information is not available to national or international investors or funding agencies to guide the pursuit of private and public economic management of the forest resource [8].

Initiatives and Development Plans

Launched at COP26, a group of donors including the United Kingdom and the European Union pledged $1.5 billion to protect the Congo Basin. In what was hailed as a landmark deal, the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) also announced a 10-year agreement (2021-2031), with $500 million earmarked for the DRC during the first five years [9].  Through this new multi-year partnership, the DRC aims to first cap forest cover loss at its 2014-2018 average and ensure that deforestation continues to decline. The partnership will also promote the regeneration of 8 million hectares of degraded land and forests, and place 30% of national areas under a protection status, including areas where local communities undertake efforts to manage forests sustainably [10].

In addition, the EU supports charcoal makers to protect the forests of the Congo Basin, through the project Governing multifunctional landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa (GML). In 2020, EU funding supported the training of around 70 charcoal makers and the creation of 11 community nurseries in the Kisangani region. That year, more than 220,000 trees were planted through the EU initiative - an amount that will double in 2021 [11].

Goals and Ambitions

The DRC government aims to reduce more than 18 million tonnes of GHG emissions over the next 30 years. In order to reduce deforestation and emissions in the Congo Basin forests combined efforts that strengthen governance, the capacities of forestry institutions and the improvement of sectoral activities on reforestation, agroforestry, forest management and community engagement will be necessary in the country.