Congo Basin Forest Partnership Meeting

The first meeting of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership since it was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development is taking place in Paris, France, January 21-23, 2003. The general goals of this partnership are the conservation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
 
Thirty partners, including 80 representatives from 14 governments, international organizations and civil society are attending the coordination meeting. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Environment Jeffry Burnam is leading U.S. government participation. The United States and South Africa currently serve as co-chairs of the partnership. The government of France is hosting the Paris meeting.
 
The United States plans to invest up to $53 million in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership through 2005. For additional information, please see fact sheet at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2002/15617.htm. For further details, please contact: Susan Povenmire, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at 202-647-3486 or povenmiresl@state.gov.