The Republic of Congo’s Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin Arlette Soudan-Nonault has inaugurated the second phase of the Biodev 2030 project. The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity conservation and promote ecosystem sustainability in the country.
The second phase of Biodev 2030 focuses on creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform to coordinate national biodiversity actions and explore innovative funding mechanisms, including biodiversity certificates and payments for ecosystem services.
The first phase (2020–2022) identified agriculture and mining as key sectors for biodiversity conservation in the Republic of Congo. The project aligns with commitments made at COP15 in Montreal in 2022, where countries pledged to safeguard biodiversity. The second phase builds on these findings to implement the Montreal Agreement and drive meaningful progress.
Financed by the French Development Agency with €10 million, including €400,000 for the second phase, Biodev 2030 spans 15 countries and will run through 2026. Priorities include forming a national biodiversity advisory committee, developing innovative financing and building local capacity.
During the launch workshop on January 7, Minister Soudan-Nonault emphasized the critical role of biodiversity for humanity, noting that its loss in Africa has led to declining populations and habitats for numerous species, alongside increased vector-borne disease outbreaks. She underscored the urgency of halting biodiversity decline to secure sustainable access to essential ecosystem services such as food, water regulation fibers, and wood.
