Concerns raised about Boris Johnson’s $500m forest sale in DRC

Following a devastating study on the “lawless” logging industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, environmentalists have expressed alarm over a $500 million (£380 million) forest conservation pact signed by Boris Johnson at Cop26.

The Central African Forest Initiative (Cafi) signed a 10-year memorandum of intent with Johnson on behalf of the protection of high-value forests and peatlands. The UK pledged £200 million to the protection of the Congo basin at Cop26, of which £32 million was allocated to Cafi.

The long-awaited audit of the country’s logging business was issued by the DRC government at the beginning of April. In the world’s second-largest rainforest, it was discovered that six consecutive ministers had unlawfully issued at least 18 logging concessions, breaching a nearly two-decade embargo on new industrial logging in the region.

As a first step in a pact struck by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and 12 donors on the first day of the Cop26 conference, an audit found that more over $3 million in royalties had not been paid by operators to the government because of a “chaotic environment.”

The prohibition on industrial logging is scheduled to be removed at the end of the year, according to environmental organisations.

After the audit, the DRC environment ministry reviewed all forest concession contracts, but environmental organisations seek suspensions and prosecutions.

Known as the lungs of Africa, the Congo basin rainforest is home to endangered forest elephants and gorillas and is an immense carbon storage that sustains rains as far away as Egypt and is home to over 80 million people. It absorbs around 4% of global yearly CO2 emissions.

“The audit uncovers a circus of illegalities, corruption, and environmental crimes,” said Greenpeace Congo Forest Lead Irene Wabiwa Betoko. Greenpeace Africa requests that all authorities responsible for destroying the forests be prosecuted and their parliamentary immunity be lifted.

Despite the moratorium on new industrial logging, the DRC will lose 490,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of primary rainforest by 2020, according to Global Forest Watch.

Lord Goldsmith, the foreign environment minister, visited the region last month after the DRC failed to publish the audit by January 1.

He said his journey gave him a chance to meet leaders in one of the world’s most significant and biodiverse regions. At Cop26, both donor and Congo basin nations made large pledges, and the Congo basin countries’ leadership was immensely effective. “I am committed to keep my promises,” he declared.

Cafi, the donor group that agreed to the $500m arrangement with the DRC, welcomed the audit but said no funds had been issued yet. In a statement to the Guardian, it praised the DRC Inspection générale des finances for publishing its findings on logging concessions and pledged to continue working with the DRC government to improve forest administration.

CAFI said it will continue to assist the DRC in meeting the goals and commitments established in the 2021-2031 statement of intent.

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