In September 2024, the Elysee Palace described the “One Forest Summit” as a high-level initiative aimed at preserving biodiversity and protecting forests in the face of climate change. The summit took place in Libreville, Gabon, a nation well-known for its extensive forest cover, under the joint leadership of France and Gabon. The summit addressed the urgent need to safeguard forests and ecosystems, particularly in tropical regions, which play a crucial role in regulating the global climate.
Among the most notable outcomes of the summit was the launch of a 100-million-euro (USD110 million) initiative designed to reward communities for their efforts in protecting forests and ecosystems. France committed to providing half of the funding for this effort.
Moreover, the “One Forest Vision” plan has been introduced, involving scientists in extensive surveys of biodiversity and carbon levels, focusing on carbon sequestration, across the world’s tropical forests over the next five years.
Corporate executives attending the summit also pledged to create 10 million jobs in the sustainable forest management sector by 2030, highlighting the economic potential of preserving forests while combating climate change.
These initiatives are part of the broader “Libreville Plan,” which aims to halt the decline of species and ecosystems and help the world achieve the critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, nearly a month after the summit, no further details have emerged on how these ambitious plans will be implemented. There is an urgent need for the summit organisers to provide clarity on the institutional processes and strategies that will drive these efforts forward. Without this, there is a real risk that the initiative may fall short of its goals.
Lessons From The 2021 Summit For Biodiversity
The One Forest Summit was held just two years after the 2021 One Planet Summit for Biodiversity, also led by France. During that event, delegates reiterated their commitment to the “Great Green Wall” initiative, one of the most ambitious ecological restoration projects in the world. Launched in 2007 with the backing of African Union leaders, the “Great Green Wall” aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across 11 countries in the Sahel-Sahara region by 2030.
The project, which initially envisioned a 7,000-kilometre-long wall of trees stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, has since evolved into a more comprehensive series of initiatives. These include safeguarding existing forests, establishing community gardens, and improving soil health, in addition to planting new trees. The overarching goal is to sequester 250 million tons of carbon dioxide and create 10 million jobs in the region.
However, the project’s slow progress underscores the challenges of implementing large-scale environmental initiatives. By 2020, only 350,000 of the promised 10 million jobs had been created, and just one-fifth of the degraded land (20 million hectares) had been restored. The primary reason for this underachievement is the lack of sufficient funding. Of the USD 30 billion needed for the project, only USD 2.5 billion has been invested.
A United Nations official reported that donors have pledged USD 15 billion to support a pipeline of 150 projects related to the “Great Green Wall.” However, a United Nations report released in February 2024 noted that it remains unclear how much of this funding is in the form of grants, loans, or previously existing funds that have been rebranded as Great Green Wall money.
Challenges In Financing And Regional Cooperation
The slow pace of financing has also exacerbated tensions between international donors and the African Union. The report highlighted a lack of trust between the two, with donor countries appearing selective about where they invest.
Nations with relatively stable political environments, such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Niger, and Senegal, have received more attention and resources. Meanwhile, countries facing internal conflicts, such as Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Sudan, have seen limited involvement in the project.
In the Sahel region, where poverty, displacement, and insurgencies are prevalent, foreign donors have been hesitant to invest. This reluctance is understandable, given the instability and the difficulty of implementing conservation and development projects in conflict zones. However, the situation also means that some of the most vulnerable nations and their people are being left behind just when they need assistance the most.
The Great Green Wall initiative has also struggled to generate the same level of enthusiasm among African leaders as it did in its early years when prominent figures like Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo and Senegal’s Abdoulaye Wade championed the project. Without strong leadership, the Great Green Wall risks becoming a fragmented collection of projects that only benefit a few countries, rather than a pan-African endeavour.
Need For Clear Commitments And Accountability
As the world awaits further details on the One Forest Summit’s ambitious plans, the lessons from the “Great Green Wall” project must be considered. International conferences and summits can generate significant media attention and lead to important pledges, but without follow-through, these promises may end up broken, exacerbating poverty and environmental degradation, while fostering mistrust between developing nations and the international community.
For the “One Forest Vision” and the broader “Libreville Plan” to succeed, clear, actionable steps must be outlined, and accountability must be prioritised. Donors and stakeholders need to ensure that their commitments are not just symbolic but are backed by tangible resources and strategic plans. The global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss is too important to relegate past initiatives, such as the “Great Green Wall,” to the “too difficult” category.
If the world intends to combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable development, action must be taken immediately. Achieving these ambitious goals requires effective leadership, sufficient funding, and a collaborative effort.