SEO Riders:
– GEF Funds Climate Resilience in Ubangi River Basin
– Cross-Border Initiative Enhances Water Resource Management
– Protecting Biodiversity in the Congo River Tributaries
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved an $8.7 million initiative to enhance climate resilience in the Ubangi River Basin, shared by the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This project aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and improve technical and institutional capacities to manage extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, affecting the region. Implementing agencies include the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Development Bank, with execution by the International Commission of the Congo-Ubangi-Sangha (CICOS) and relevant national ministries.
The Ubangi River, a major tributary of the Congo River, spans over 2,272 kilometers and is a critical ecological zone housing more than 10,000 plant species and 2,500 animal species. However, the basin faces threats from deforestation, mining pollution, and changing hydrological patterns. The GEF-funded project will adopt an integrated approach to address these challenges, focusing on biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable ecosystem management to safeguard the river’s ecological and economic significance.
