How can climate science better inform land-use decisions in one of the world’s most important forest regions?
This question was at the heart of a recent webinar hosted by the Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative (CBLI) together with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, marking the launch of a new report exploring climate impacts and policy pathways for the Congo Basin.
The publication, Climate Analysis and Policy Recommendations on Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Integrated Land Use Management Plans in the Congo Basin, translates emerging climate evidence into practical guidance for policymakers and landscape practitioners.
Climate signals already reshaping the Basin
The analysis examines four transboundary landscapes spanning six Central African countries and reveals consistent trends:
- longer and more frequent dry periods,
- rising heat exposure affecting forest carbon dynamics,
- increasingly intense precipitation events,
- shifting rainfall seasonality.
Together, these changes pose risks not only to biodiversity and ecosystems but also to agriculture, livelihoods, and regional development pathways.
During the webinar discussion, presenters Alexandra Naegele and Glenn K. Bush from the Woodwell Climate Research Center emphasized that climate change is no longer a future consideration — it is already influencing how landscapes function and must therefore be embedded in planning decisions today.
Integrated planning as a pathway forward
A central message emerging from both the report and the discussion is the importance of Integrated Land Use Management Plans (ILUMPs) as tools for aligning climate resilience, conservation, and development.
Rather than relying on perfect datasets, the report advocates adaptive and participatory planning approaches that work within data-limited contexts while still guiding investment and policy decisions.
Key recommendations include:
- climate-responsive spatial planning and zoning,
- strengthening ecological corridors and protected areas,
- recognizing biodiversity as productive natural capital,
- linking rural livelihoods with ecosystem stewardship,
- mobilizing finance through coherent landscape planning.
Integrated planning as a pathway forward
A central message emerging from both the report and the discussion is the importance of Integrated Land Use Management Plans (ILUMPs) as tools for aligning climate resilience, conservation, and development.
Rather than relying on perfect datasets, the report advocates adaptive and participatory planning approaches that work within data-limited contexts while still guiding investment and policy decisions.
Key recommendations include:
- climate-responsive spatial planning and zoning,
- strengthening ecological corridors and protected areas,
- recognizing biodiversity as productive natural capital,
- linking rural livelihoods with ecosystem stewardship,
- mobilizing finance through coherent landscape planning.
Looking ahead
- As climate pressures intensify, integrating climate considerations into land-use planning will be essential to maintaining the Congo Basin’s role as a global climate regulator and biodiversity stronghold.
- Through initiatives like this report and continued knowledge exchange, CBLI aims to support countries and partners in advancing climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable landscape governance across the region.
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Our february webinar created space for exchange among partners, practitioners, and policymakers working across the Congo Basin. For those unable to join live, the discussion remains available online.
▶️ Watch the webinar recording
📄Download the report