{"id":10302,"date":"2026-07-13T10:17:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T09:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rainforestfoundationuk.org\/?p=10302"},"modified":"2026-07-13T10:19:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T09:19:00","slug":"drc-environment-minister-commits-to-uphold-logging-moratorium-as-csos-call-for-lasting-protection-of-the-congo-basin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rainforestfoundationuk.org\/es\/drc-environment-minister-commits-to-uphold-logging-moratorium-as-csos-call-for-lasting-protection-of-the-congo-basin\/","title":{"rendered":"DRC Environment Minister commits to uphold logging moratorium, as CSOs call for lasting protection of the Congo Basin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our organisations, members of a coalition of 70 Congolese and international organisations working to protect human rights and the environment, welcome the public statement by Marie Nyange Ndambo, Minister of the Environment, Development and New Climate Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reaffirming that the moratorium on the allocation of new industrial logging concessions will not be lifted.<\/p>\n

The announcement, made during a special press briefing<\/a> broadcast on the national television station (RTNC) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the Congo Basin forests. It responds directly to the concerns raised by the coalition in its open letter<\/a> to the Prime Minister on 3 July 2026, which warned of the economic, social and environmental consequences of a possible lifting of the moratorium.<\/p>\n

“We welcome the Minister’s commitment. It sends a strong signal in support of the protection of the Congo Basin forests and recognises the critical role that the moratorium plays in safeguarding community rights, biodiversity and climate stability. This announcement represents an important first victory for our collective advocacy efforts,”<\/strong> dijo Bonaventure Bondo, Congo Basin Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our organisations nevertheless emphasise that this positive development must now be translated into lasting policy, particularly as several senior government figures continue to advocate for lifting the ban. The organisations call on the Government to permanently exclude any provisions that would allow the moratorium to be lifted from ongoing legislative reforms, particularly the revision of the Forest Code, while continuing to strengthen forest governance, transparency, monitoring, and enforcement throughout the forestry sector.<\/p>\n

“We welcome this statement by the Minister, which signals that forest protection remains central to the country’s national priorities. We now encourage the Government to translate this political commitment into strong institutional guarantees so that the moratorium and community rights remain lasting pillars of forest governance in the DRC,”<\/strong> dijo Joe Eisen, Executive Director of Rainforest Foundation UK.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the Congolese organisations within the coalition, the Minister’s announcement also represents an important victory for the communities that live in and depend on these forests.<\/p>\n

“Many local communities and Indigenous Peoples will welcome this announcement. It must now be followed by concrete actions that strengthen their rights, ensure their meaningful participation in decision-making, and recognise their essential role in conserving the Congo Basin forests,”<\/strong> dijo Blaise Mudodosi Muhigwa, National Coordinator of Actions pour la Promotion et la Protection des Peuples et Esp\u00e8ces Menac\u00e9s (APEM).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our organisations also take note of the Minister’s remarks on the potential role of forests in the development of carbon markets. While the Congo Basin forests are indeed a globally important natural asset for climate mitigation, their protection should not be driven by their economic value within carbon market mechanisms. Our organisations reiterate that climate policies must, above all, ensure the protection of biodiversity, respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and transparent, equitable and accountable governance of natural resources. The integrity of carbon projects therefore rests on fundamental safeguards: respect for free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), effective grievance mechanisms, equitable benefit-sharing, and robust governance, monitoring and transparency arrangements. In the absence of these conditions, carbon projects risk losing their credibility, legitimacy and ability to generate the expected benefits.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, it is important to recognise the capacity and commitment of local communities and Indigenous Peoples to ensure the sustainable management of their forests through community forestry. A genuine driver of local development, community forestry is based on their priorities, their knowledge and their vision for the future.<\/p>\n

Finally, the valuation of environmental services must not be limited solely to carbon markets. Other Payments for Environmental Services (PES) mechanisms, which are more accessible and often better suited to local circumstances, can contribute effectively to the financing of conservation, the sustainable management of natural resources and regional development.<\/p>\n

Our organisations reaffirm their commitment to continuing a constructive dialogue with the Minister and wider DRC Government to consolidate ongoing reforms and make the Congo Basin forests a global model of sustainable governance, climate justice and rights-based development.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\"Aerial\n\t<\/figure>\n\t

Comparte esto:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompartir en Email\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnv\u00ede un correo electr\u00f3nico a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ud835\udd4f<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on X\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tX\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompartir en Facebook\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompartir en WhatsApp\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhatsApp\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompartir en Linkedin\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedin\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

rainforestfoundationuk<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tA major win for the Congo Basin! \ud83d\udc9a The DRC's Envi<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u26a0\ufe0fThe future of the Congo Basin is at a crossroads<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u26a0\ufe0fThe\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tCommunity Forest Success in North Kivu, Against Al<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Community\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83c\udf0d WE'RE HIRING: Head of External Relations \ud83c\udf0d Are<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83c\udf0d\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWe're launching RFUK's 2033 Vision: A New Era of R<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"We're\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83c\udf89 WE DID IT! TARGET SURPASSED! \ud83d\ude80\ud83c\udf33 You are incredi<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83c\udf89\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\udea8 FINAL 24 HOURS! The clock is ticking! \u23f0 This is<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\"\ud83d\udea8\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u23f0 HALFWAY THERE! Only 4 Days Left to Double Your G<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u23f0\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\udea8 IT\u2019S LIVE! The Earth Raise Match Fund is OPEN! \ud83d\udea8<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\"\ud83d\udea8\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\udea8 UK Forest Aid is Facing Severe Cuts. But We Have<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\"\ud83d\udea8\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThey aren\u2019t just watching the forest. They are pro<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"They\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMeet Jemimah Oronga \ud83d\udc46 When her husband married an<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Meet\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\ude80 We\u2019re Hiring: Livelihoods Coordinator Rainfores<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83d\ude80\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tICYMI: the story of Nilda Ch\u00e1vez, an Ash\u00e1ninka lea<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\"ICYMI:\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThis International Women\u2019s Day, we celebrate Nilda<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"This\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u2696\ufe0fJustice wins in Peru On World Day of Social Jus<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2696\ufe0fJustice\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRainforest collapse = a UK security threat The UK<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Rainforest\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83c\udf0d WE\u2019RE HIRING! Are you passionate about people,<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83c\udf0d\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u2728 We hit our target! \u2728 Thanks to your incredible<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2728\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u23f0 24 hours left to DOUBLE your impact! We still n<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u23f0\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t