TANZANIA is set to implement numerous projects aimed at strengthening the sustainability of biodiversity and forests through financial support from the Congo Basin Blue Fund (CBBF).

Arlette Soudan-Nonault, executive secretary of the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC) said this here yesterday when meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism and senior officials from the ministry and through the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).

Nonault led a delegation of the commission which is in the country for five-day visit to explore ways on how Tanzania can benefit from the fund. The team also aims to raise awareness among government and private sector stakeholders about the commission's role.

The delegation’s visit marks a new chapter, enabling Tanzania to actively participate in the Commission's vision.

"We have come to Tanzania to discuss with the government how best the country can take part in implementing key projects on forest and natural resource preservation, with a focus on addressing climate change effects in the Congo Basin region," she said.

During their visit, the delegation plans to meet with various public and private sector stakeholders to raise awareness about the commission's presence and key role.

Jean Paterne Megne Ekoga, Vice President of the Central African States Development Bank (CASDB), said the bank is working to mobilize financial resources from CBCC member countries to support project implementation.

"We're here in Tanzania to discuss how the country can partner with us in mobilizing resources for financing these critical projects," he explained, noting that the bank has so far raised $10billion and is strategizing to secure additional funds.

TFS Conservation Commissioner, Prof Dos Santos Silayo, said joining the CBCC brings numerous advantages to Tanzania. The country will be well-positioned to access substantial funds to execute key projects aimed at combating climate change and improving wildlife welfare.

"Tanzania plays a strategic role in supporting the environmental, climate, and ecological systems of the Congo Basin," Silayo said. Geographically, Tanzania covers a significant portion of the Congo Basin, which includes Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa, and Lake Rukwa. This positioning justifies the country’s eligibility for receiving the Congo Basin Blue Fund for conservation efforts in these areas.

Although Tanzania has been a member of the CBCC since its inception in 2016, the country had not been fully involved in the commission's key activities. This visit signals a positive shift toward greater involvement, especially in accessing funds for enhancing climate change interventions.

The Congo Basin, a vast tropical sub-region of Africa, is home to exceptional biodiversity and provides essential ecological services such as water regulation and carbon sequestration. However, human activities and climate change are increasingly threatening the integrity and survival of its ecosystems.

The Congo Basin rainforest is the largest in Africa and the second-largest in the world, after the Amazon. Its size and diversity make it crucial for mitigating climate change by acting as a carbon sink. However, deforestation and environmental degradation due to climate change are adding stress to the forest ecosystem, which in turn affects the basin's hydrology. A 2012 study found that the variability in precipitation caused by climate change will negatively impact economic activity in the region.

CBBF is an African development fund addressing climate challenges on a continental and global scale, promoting regional integration and population welfare. The fund is the main financial instrument of the Climate Commission of Congo Basin (CCCB), designed to collect resources for financing programs in the blue economy, green economy, and the fight against climate change, including poverty alleviation.

The Congo Basin Climate Commission, established in 2018, aims to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development in the sub-region. It currently includes 16 member countries, including Tanzania, supported by the Kingdom of Morocco.