Sub-regional workshop on capacity building in climate change, environmental
management, environmental crises, and disasters in Central Africa
Ensuring the sustainable management of Congo Basin forests to guarantee the sustainability of
ecosystems services coping with climate change challenges.
December 18, 2023, Douala, Cameroon – The forests of the Congo Basin contain exceptional biodiversity and
constitute a large tank of forest carbon which represents an important lever in the fight against the impacts of climate
change. These forests provide several services to the populations of Central Africa who depend on them, through the
harvesting of wood resources, non-wood forest products used both in food, the generation of alternative income and
in pharmacopoeia.
Thus, guaranteeing the preservation of Congo Basin forests is crucial to sustainably ensure the various ecosystem
goods and services that these forests provide and their role in climate regulation and mitigation of the impacts of
climate change. Faced with the increasing impacts of changes as well as environmental climate crises and disasters
recorded in Central African countries in recent years, it seems urgent to support and equip these countries to better
prepare to face crises and environmental shocks. It is in this context that FAO is organizing this sub-regional workshop
on capacity building in climate change and environmental crisis and disaster management. It will mainly bring together
Directors and senior executives of the ministries in charge of the environment and climate change as well as the
techniques of the responsible environment and climate change divisions, town halls of the capitals of Central African
countries, executives of sub-regional organizations and non-governmental organizations involved in the areas of
environmental management or awareness, management of environmental crises and disasters in Central Africa.
This five-day workshop is structured around two sections of two days each: one on climate change and the other on
capacity building in environmental management and environmental crises and disasters. One day will be devoted to
the field visit to put into practice the lessons received during the training and visit concrete cases which illustrate the
impacts of climate change or environmental crises and disasters.
WHAT: Sub-regional workshop on capacity building in climate change, environmental management,
environmental crises, and disasters in Central Africa
WHY: Reinforce capacities to ensures the sustainable management of Congo Basin forests to guarantee the
sustainability of ecosystems services coping with climate change challenges.
