Equatorial Guinea’s progress and achievements in the fight against climate change were celebrated today at an event in the capital Malabo. Authorities, institutional representatives and members of the civil society joined to acknowledge joint efforts and present newly launched projects.

Equatorial Guinea aims to promote green development in the country, in which climate and forests are key elements. The Equatoguinean forests, which cover a large part of the national territory, constitute a green treasure that can contribute to a green and diversified economy, in addition to combating climate change.

During the event, His Excellency Nicolás Hountondji Akapo, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Forests and Environment, underlined the important role of forests: “As a forestry country with the wish to promote better forest management, Equatorial Guinea has joined the global efforts against climate change. Thanks to the studies, strategies and plans that have been elaborated, we have a great opportunity to contribute to the development of the country with an ecological model.”

FAO representative in Equatorial Guinea, Ms Fátima Espinal Mercedes, noted the importance of multi-sectorial and extensive stakeholder collaboration, and invited all participants to be part of the great alliance for the environment and forests. “The achievement of this alliance requires a small but important step: Learn to love forests”.

With the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), Equatorial Guinea has finalised important publications to support the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+): the Study on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in 2004-2014; the Historical analysis of deforestation and forest degradation 2004-2014; and the National REDD+ Strategy. These three documents were publicly presented at the event, and provide information about forest and the strategic actions to preserve them for the benefit of present and future generations. The last product of the CAFI project, the “National Invest Plan for REDD+” has just been validated nationally, and once finalised, will guide the efforts to reduce forests loss, and will allow the coordination and mobilisation of sources of REDD+ funding under the same framework.

Thanks to the results of the CAFI project, Equatorial Guinea has mobilised additional funding for climate and environment, specifically readiness support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, which were launched in the event:

• “Preparatory support for GCF engagement in Equatorial Guinea”
• “Preparatory support to the NDA of Equatorial Guinea to engage with the GCF in early phases of REDD+”
• Formulation of the GEF project “Promoting Community-Based Forestry for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Livelihoods in Equatorial Guinea”

These projects all aim to have a positive effect on the country’s low-carbon green development and in improving the wellbeing of Equatoguinean population.

These initiatives will also contribute to strengthen food security in the country, to respect the commitments in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

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