Held jointly by France and Gabon, the 6th One Planet Summit took place on 1 and 2 March 2023 in Libreville, Gabon. This Summit focused on common challenges for the three tropical forest basins of the Congo Basin, the Amazon forest and the forests of South-East Asia. The choice of Gabon to host the Summit highlights the rich heritage of African forests.
Announced by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Ali Bongo at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, this Summit was key to preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change by focusing on the protection and sustainable management of the three tropical forest basins of the Congo, the Amazon and South-East Asia.
The major forest basins play a key role in regulating the climate by sequestering huge amounts of CO2. They are also home to exceptional fauna and flora. The One Forest Summit was also an opportunity to highlight the crucial role of African forests, largely unknown to the general public.
The aim was to further the protection and sustainable management of tropical forests, based on three focuses:
Scientific cooperation on forest ecosystems to strengthen international expertise as regards the links between health and biodiversity;
Sustainable value chains in the forestry sector to ensure activities benefit the economy, the environment and local people;
Innovative financing for biodiversity improve the quantity and quality of financing for tropical forest conservation.
The first day of the Summit brought together members of Governments and civil society as well as experts to help achieve the One Forest Summit aims. Participants had also the opportunity to take part in ministerial and side events.
On the second day, high-level meetings were held with Heads of State and Government on the Congo Basin and the common challenges faced by African, Amazon and Asian forest basins.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 