COP16: DRC and Colombia Pave the Way for Environmental Cooperation

From left to right: Ms. Chantal Shalukoma (Scientific Director, ICCN), Mr. Luc Gérard Nyafe (President - Board of Directors, FP), Ms. Francia Márquez (Vice-President, Colombia), Mr. Yves Milan Ngangay (Director General, ICCN), & Mr. Rodrigo Zapata (Head of Innovation, UNP). Photo: Courtesy

On the sidelines of COP16, currently taking place in Cali, Colombia, the President of the Board of Directors of Forgotten Parks, Mr. Luc Gérard Nyafe, the Director General of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), Mr. Yves Milan Ngangay, and the Scientific Director of ICCN, Ms. Chantal Shalukoma, were received yesterday, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, by the Vice President of Colombia, Ms. Francia Márquez. The meeting focused on exploring areas of collaboration and aligning environmental positions between the DRC and Colombia during and beyond COP16.

As two countries from the southern hemisphere, the DRC and Colombia face similar challenges in biodiversity conservation efforts, including the integration of indigenous populations in conservation projects. In his remarks, Director General Ngangay highlighted several common conservation challenges for both countries, particularly the presence of militias, mining activities, poaching, and other illegal practices. In response, Vice President Márquez, winner of the 2018 Goldman Prize, proposed a united front that draws on African heritage and the vocational sense of responsibility shared by Congolese and Colombians in preserving the natural wealth of the Congo and Amazon basins.

"Presenting the Upemba National Park and its current situation added a practical element to the discussion, which could guide the vision for environmental cooperation between the DRC and Colombia," added Mr. Rodrigo Zapata (Head of Innovation, UNP) and UNP representative at COP16.

These fruitful exchanges mark an important step in consolidating a robust network of mutual assistance and cooperation that the DRC needs to meet its conservation challenges. It also signals progress for the UNP, which aims to play a significant role in conservation in the DRC and beyond, proving that the DRC is truly a 'Solution Country.'