{"id":9699,"date":"2025-11-07T13:31:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rainforestfoundationuk.org\/?p=9699"},"modified":"2025-11-07T13:50:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:50:31","slug":"community-forests-in-drc-a-proven-solution-for-a-solutions-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rainforestfoundationuk.org\/es\/community-forests-in-drc-a-proven-solution-for-a-solutions-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Forests in DRC: A Proven Solution for a \u2018Solutions Country\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\n\t

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) delegation heads to COP30 in Bel\u00e9m – the so-called “Rainforest COP” – RFUK and a coalition of 21\u00a0Congolese civil society\u00a0and\u00a0Indigenous organisations is urging policymakers to recognise the country’s community forestry model as a cornerstone of climate and biodiversity action.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Holding 60% of the world’s second-largest rainforest and its largest terrestrial carbon sink, the DRC\u00a0promotes itself as a “solutions country” to the\u00a0global\u00a0climate and\u00a0biodiversity\u00a0crises and\u00a0will\u00a0play\u00a0a\u00a0central role\u00a0in the negotiations\u00a0at the COP.\u00a0It is also\u00a0expected to make several\u00a0important\u00a0commitments\u00a0regarding\u00a0the rights of\u00a0Indigenous Peoples and local communities\u00a0including through the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP) and the Congo Basin Compact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Rights-Based Model for Climate and Development<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

In\u00a0the\u00a0briefing<\/a> launched today, the coalition\u00a0<\/b>sets out exactly how the country’s innovative community forest model can contribute to these and other commitments as well as national initiatives such as the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor<\/a>, one of the world’s largest terrestrial protected areas that was created in January. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the legal framework for community forestry in DRC was completed in 2016, over\u00a0227\u00a0Local Community Forest Concessions (CFCLs)<\/a>\u00a0have been\u00a0established\u00a0in the country\u00a0covering\u00a04.5 million hectares\u00a0–\u00a0area larger than mainland Denmark.\u00a0These concessions, which can be\u00a0up to 50,000 hectares and\u00a0held by communities in perpetuity, enable\u00a0local populations\u00a0to protect their forests while generating livelihoods through activities such as agroforestry, sustainable fishing, and non-timber forest products.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Delivering on DRC’s Global Commitments<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the right institutional backing, enabling policy\u00a0and business\u00a0environment,\u00a0Community forestry\u00a0can be\u00a0major pathway for\u00a0DRC\u00a0to\u00a0realise its stated ambitions.\u00a0In order the fully realise this potential, the coalition call for:\u00a0<\/p>\n