Kinshasa, July 8th, 2020 (CPA).– ‘Credit Bonobo’ is an innovative financing mechanism launched to promote the conservation of biodiversity, specifically that of an emblematic species endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo found in parks and reserves in the east of the country, the CPA learned on Tuesday from a press release. ‘Credit Bonobo is an innovative financing mechanism launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo to promote biodiversity conservation, particularly that of the bonobo, an iconic and endemic species of the DRC, while improving the living conditions of local communities and indigenous peoples,’ the statement said.
According to Ms Eve Bazaiba, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, quoted in the press release, the Bonobo Credit is based on a dynamic partnership between local communities, NGOs, public authorities and private investors.
‘This scheme combines environmental protection and community development, actively involving the populations living near protected areas,’ the source said. The same press release emphasized that this mechanism also provides for capacity-building programs designed to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, while contributing to poverty reduction.
‘The “Bonobo Credit” represents a way forward for the DRC, demonstrating how green financing can not only strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts, but also offer real economic opportunities to local populations,’ the statement continued.
The source said that all eyes are now on the recommendations that will emerge from the two days of work to define the roadmap for this promising initiative. It should be noted that President Felix Tshisekedi launched the round table discussions on the ‘bonobo credit’ last Saturday. The source also relayed the comments of Mr. Yves Milan Ngangay, Director General of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), who explained the difference between carbon credits and bonobo credits. According to him, the former focuses on reducing CO₂ emissions, while bonobo credits promote the DRC’s unique biodiversity through the preservation of emblematic species such as the okapi, the lowland gorilla, the mountain gorilla and the Congolese peacock. The bonobo was chosen as the flagship species to initiate this process, before extending the approach to other species. The press release specified that the launch event was attended by the Minister of State for the Environment and Sustainable Development, with financial and technical support from the Antwerp Foundation and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).