By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The 10th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the Central African Forests Commission, COMIFAC has ended in Yaounde with Cameroon taking over from Rwanda as new Chairperson for a two-year mandate. The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo took over the attributes and COMIFAC flag from former Chair, Rwanda’s Minister of Lands, Environment, Forestry, Water and Mines, Vincent Biruta at a solemn ceremony chaired last July 11, 2019 at the Yaounde Conference Centre by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute.
Addressing the Council of Ministers, PM Dion Ngute said COMIFAC was created 20 years ago under the initiative of President Paul Biya of Cameroon who in 1999 summoned the Heads of State meeting of the Central African States during which the Yaounde Declaration creating the organisation was made. He said since then, Cameroon has deployed lots of efforts to ensure that COMIFAC functions and fulfils its missions of sustainable management of the forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin and ensure better living conditions of the population citing as examples, the building of the COMIFAC headquarters in Yaounde estimated to cost FCFA 7 billion, and the signing of the headquarters agreement between COMIFAC and the government. He said Cameroon has been faithful in paying its financial contributions.
The Prime Minister urged the Ministers to use the 10th session of their Council that is dedicated to evaluate the financial situation of the institution to deepen reflection on how to install management that creates impact.
On challenges awaiting him, the new chairperson of COMIFAC Council of Ministers, Minister Jules Doret Ndongo explained that “I will oversee the execution of the classical missions of COMIFAC which are sustainable management of the natural and forestry resources and wildlife, as well as the preservation of the ecosystems of the Congo Basin. I plan to continue with ongoing projects and seek ways of ensuring that member States pay their financial contributions. I will also focus on ensuring the proper functioning of the executive secretariat and search for finances and means to tackle emerging issues such as deforestation and fight against poaching.”
He stressed that “more importantly I will oversee the implementation of the COMIFAC Convergence Plan that has the vision of sustainable and joint management by Central African States of their forest resources for the wellbeing of their people, the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the global environment.”
COMIFAC is the principal political and technical forum for guidance, coordination, harmonization and decision-making in the conservation and sustainable management of forest and savannah ecosystems in Central Africa.