January 2015: The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has released an overview of the Forests and Climate Change in the Congo (FCCC) project, which aims to support the efforts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in capacity building and applied research to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and thereby mitigate climate change.

The brochure reviews the evolution of forest issues in the DRC, from conflict as a critical driver of deforestation, to the emerging commitment to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. The FCCC project’s objective is to build capacity and strengthen research on forests as source and sink of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through partnerships with universities in the DRC, and the establishment of plantations and agroforestry demonstration sites.

In recognition of the regional and global value of forests in the DRC, the project also focuses on restoration within the Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa. The project is funded by the EU and implemented by the DRC Government in collaboration with CIFOR and other national and international partners. CIFOR is part of the CGIAR Consortium. [Publication: Forests and Climate Change in the Congo (FCCC)]