INFORBIO - INtact and effectively managed FORests and BIOdiversity as natural barriers to mitigate climate change and risk of pathogen spillover

The Congo Basin rainforests constitute one of the last real tropical carbon sinks. They are key biodiversity areas which support livelihoods, health and maintain the cultural identity of indigenous people and local communities (IPLCs). However, they are disappearing at alarming rates. This impacts their resilience, and their capacity to act as a natural barrier against the spillover of zoonotic diseases. Based on the One Health approach, the project will raise excellency in the management of existing Protected Areas, establish new community-led conservation avenues to increase forest areas and connectivity, foster forest-based effective economic modalities, and will set an early warning system and intervention response to minimise the risk of zoonotic outbreak. It will raise the interlink between “intact ecosystems, human wellbeing, animal health" at national and international agendas, and promote significant, long term policy commitments to restore and conserve this biome.