British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the creation of the Congo Basin Forest Fund, designed to combat the destruction of the world’s second largest rainforest by providing the region’s residents with sources of income and energy not dependent upon destruction of the forest. The fund, which Brown said was the largest ever created to battle deforestation, also will help pay for high-definition cameras to monitor rates of forest destruction from satellites. The U.K. is providing £58 million and Norway £50 million; Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said his country’s contribution was part of a £300 million national effort to slow deforestation, which produces roughly one-fifth of all greenhouse gases emitted worldwide.
The Congo basin forest — covering parts of six African nations — is the second-largest in the world, behind the Amazon. Nobel Prize laureate Wangari Maathai will chair the fund with former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who called it an example of “carbon justice,” meaning wealthy nations responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions partner with developing nations to combat the effects of global warming. A major challenge of the fund is getting resources to people in nations where corruption is rife.
The Congo basin forest — covering parts of six African nations — is the second-largest in the world, behind the Amazon. Nobel Prize laureate Wangari Maathai will chair the fund with former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who called it an example of “carbon justice,” meaning wealthy nations responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions partner with developing nations to combat the effects of global warming. A major challenge of the fund is getting resources to people in nations where corruption is rife.