Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

The role of forests in climate change mitigation is well documented. However, little is known about the importance of forests to adaptation in response to climate change, and its integration with mitigation options to cushion social and biophysical systems from the impacts of climate change. This paper examines pathways for harmonizing forest-related climate change adaptation and mitigation in francophone Africa covering Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Cameroon. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed in this study. It was found that wood energy savings, afforestation, reforestation, promotion of community forests, agro-silvipastoral schemes and urban forestry schemes were the most identified interventions with a potential of climate change adaptation and mitigation outcomes. In this regard, mainstreaming forests into adaptation and mitigation policies in the context of NDCs is critical if the benefits from forests and trees outside forests are to be realized in Francophone Africa.