As part of the GEF Congo Forest Integrated Programme, and together with partners, the UNEP-led Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative is tackling the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation by working with local communities to develop integrated transboundary land use management plans that are designed to support biodiversity and conserve forest cover, while ensuring livelihoods remain sustainable and economic opportunities increase for forest dwellers.
The study Mapping oil palm plantations and their implications on forest and great ape habitat loss in Central Africa (Ozigis et al, 2024), produced by UNEP’s partner Liverpool John Moore’s University under the UNEP-led GEF Congo Basin Integrated Programme, is supporting these efforts. This research provides essential data and insights that help bridge the knowledge gap between conservation needs and sustainable development planning in the region.