Posted on August, 31 2022

Central African States can only achieve sustainable development when it is recognized that economies are embedded in nature and that unsustainable development will lead to collapse of systems that are critical to both economy and wellbeing, a report published by WWF and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has stated. 

The report titled: "Building a Sustainable Future for Central Africa in a Post-COVID World: The Role of Natural Capital", was launched on August 31, 2022, on the sideline of the first Africa Climate Week in Libreville, Gabon. It examines the relationships between economic growth, natural capital and human well-being in ECCAS countries as well as the dependencies and vulnerabilities between people, health and nature exposed, among others, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, all countries in the Central African region “have heavily relied on their natural wealth for income but have failed to invest these proceeds to achieve significant development, something that has come at high environmental costs and high risk to future wellbeing.” This is largely blamed on bad governance and widespread corruption.   

The report is published at a time Central Africa rich oil and mineral resources, favorable conditions for agriculture, its ecosystems, large and intact forests and variety of wildlife species, are facing serious threats. Human activities near unregulated and sensitive ecosystems have been identified as a major threat to the ecological future of the region.

The report highlights plausible pathways that the region could take to ensure a just and green recovery, including the role that natural capital can play in this rebuilding process. “ECCAS countries need to consider and protect their remaining ecosystems, and strive to maintain nature's regenerative capacity. They should strengthen and expand their protected area 

networks, promote sustainable land use practices and implement environmental safeguards in planning and development,” the report states.

It urges countries in the region to change their measure of economic success by looking beyond GDP and using approaches such as natural capital valuation and accounting to internalize the economic value of its natural resources and biodiversity in decision-making.

"Much of Africa’s growth and development is related to the rich natural capital endowed by the continent. This new report analyses people’s dependencies on nature and the interconnectedness of economic growth, natural capital and human wellbeing. It further recommends different policy recommendations that we are confident will build a sustainable future for Central Africa; one that balances its immediate development and economic needs with its longer-term sustainable development as the region emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and begins to rebuild." says Alice Ruhweza, WWF Africa Regional Director.

According to Mr. Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Commission, the Congo Basin plays a critical role in combating climate change.  He said in order to realize and benefit from its investments in nature and maximize its future well-being, the region must invest in its people and institutions. “The ecological future of the region will be influenced by the economic and developmental trajectories that policymakers advocate today,” Gilberto Da Piedade said.

The 11 ECCAS countries are now at a critical juncture, as they must choose a path to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

For media queries and interview requests, contact:

Rejane Owono : rowono@wwfgab.org - +241 77 02 31 33; Fidelis Pegue Manga Fmanga@wwfcam.org