Revision of the Investment Framework for the Central African Forest Initiative Gabon

Context of the service

In 2015, Gabon co-signed, with neighbouring and donor countries, the Declaration of the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). At the end of 2015, Gabon's National Climate Council (CNC) submitted its National Investment Framework (CNI) to the CAFI Board of Directors.

This CNI presents a synthetic diagnosis of the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation (forestry, agriculture, mining and infrastructure), the existing measures to address them and the two programmes at the heart of the CNI: the National Land Use Plan (PNAT) and the National System for the Observation of Natural Resources and Forests (SNORNF).

The CNI was not validated at the end of 2015 and it was the subject of comments from the CAFI Bureau. This is why SalvaTerra was hired by the CNC to contribute to its revision and improvement, in coordination with the National Agency for Natural Parks (ANPN) and the Gabonese Agency for Space Studies and Observation (AGEOS).

Services provided

The support took place in four stages:

- Restructuring of the document on the form, then analysis and amendment on the substance, by cross-referencing the information of the CNI with various documents: draft of the National Territorial Development Plan (PNAT), Strategic Plan for Emerging Gabon, Operational Plan for Green Gabon, National Climate Plan, Planned Nationally Determined Contribution, reports from the Natural Resources Observation System, progress reports of the GRAINE project, National infrastructure plan, CAFI terms of reference, comments from CAFI experts following the 1st presentation of the CNI made by Gabon, etc.

- Detailed analysis of the activities and budgets planned for the PNAT and the SNORNF. Proposals for changes were sent to the authorities ahead of a mission to Libreville.

- Mission to Libreville to collect additional data, discuss with the authorities on the trade-offs to be made (activities and budgets).

- Amendment of the CNI, validation by the Gabonese authorities and then the CAFI Bureau, allowing the granting of $18 million over five years.

Summary of the service

Support to the National Climate Council (CNC) of Gabon for the consolidation of the National Investment Framework (CNI) submitted to the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI): development of a holistic strategy and a detailed budget ($18 million over 5 years) to limit greenhouse gas emissions related to deforestation and forest degradation, based on (i) a National Land Use Plan and (ii) a Natural Resources and Forests Observation System.