TMB Partners in the First International Conference on Biodiversity in the Congo Basin

10.06.2014, Kisangani, DRC – TMB participated in the first international conference on biodiversity in the Congo basin, which took place in Kisangani, Province Orientale, from 6 to 10 June 2014.

At the heart of TMB’s ethos is a long-term commitment to the DRC. Our commitment to investing in our community emphasises partnering with those who in particular are focused on the long-term well-being of the population, who prioritise in investing in rural areas of the country and who are committed to environmentally and socially sustainable solutions to the needs of the Congo.

We are therefore proud to support this initiative focused on the biodiversity of the Congo basin.

The conference organisers explained “The forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin constitute the second largest area of contiguous tropical forest in the world and represent approximately twenty percent of the world’s remaining closed canopy tropical forest. They are home to conservation worthy animal species such as bonobos, mountain gorillas and okapis. These forests do not only play a significant role for global biodiversity conservation, they also provide essential regional and global ecological services as carbon sink and as a freshwater catchment basin. Millions of people depend on these natural resources for their survival in a unique ecosystem that is endangered by deforestation, poaching, over-fishing and mining activities.
This 1st Conference on Biodiversity in the Congo Basin is a unique opportunity for African and international scientific communities and other stakeholders to  meet, exchange information, compare and jointly analyze data to facilitate the sustainable conservation of the biodiversity and the natural resources of the Congo basin.”

The conference gathered over 220 participants, coming from 23 countries.

Information, contributions, joint statement and reports are available here.