UN hands Gabon $150m to fight deforestation

The United Nations has handed Gabon (which is almost 90 percent covered by forest) the sum of $150 million spread over 10-years to fight the devastating effect of deforestation.

According to the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), which the UN launched to bring together the region’s nations with Western donors, the princely sum will be disbursed to the West African country through Norway.

The “historic” 10-year deal will be awarded to Gabon for “both reducing its greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation, and absorptions of carbon dioxide by natural forests,” CAFI said in a statement.

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Gabon has been a leader in Central Africa in preserving its rainforests, creating 13 national parks since 2000 that cover around 11 percent of the country.

The announcement comes ahead of a major UN climate summit on Monday as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called to ask countries to raise their greenhouse gas reduction targets.

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