African ministers in Nairobi are launching a new pan-African initiative called Zámba Heritage aimed at sustainable forest management and aimed at mobilizing $400 million over the next decade.
In Nairobi, a high-level meeting gathers ministers from several African countries, including those from the Congo Basin, Cameroon, and Liberia, to discuss a new initiative focused on forest management and protection. The central question is how to better safeguard forests while leveraging them for development. This initiative, named Zámba Heritage or "Africa's Forest Heritage," seeks to address these challenges by bringing together various stakeholders to contribute towards sustainable solutions.
Africa is home to up to 16% of the world's forests yet only accounts for 2-4% of global trade in forest products. Participants at the meeting highlighted the paradox where the continent's rich forest resources are underutilized due to factors such as inadequate infrastructure and significant barriers to the movement of goods. As they embark on this initiative, these ministers aim to enhance the continent's forest trade while ensuring that sustainable practices are at the forefront of their efforts.
The initiative aims to mobilize up to $400 million in funding over the next decade for sustainable forest management, which could transform the economic landscape for many African countries reliant on forest resources. By engaging multiple nations and stakeholders, the Zámba Heritage initiative represents a significant commitment towards addressing both environmental and economic challenges, ensuring that forest resources contribute substantially to developmental goals across the continent.
