Congolese Foresters Network

Transcription

1 Congolese Foresters Network Réseau Congolais des Forestiers Coordination Générale Av. Kibombo Ibanda, Bukavu, Sud-Kivu Enceinte de la poste au Rez-de-chaussée République Démocratique du Congo rcf_rdc@yahoo.fr BP : 1252 BUKAVU, via Cyangugu-Rwanda Tel : Report on the World March for Climate Change 'WORLD MARCH FOR CLIMATE' in Collaboration with the National Science Research Foundation (NSRF) in Lwiro, South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, November 28-29, 2015 Congolese Foresters Network Report published in French in December 2015 Report published in English in July 2016

2 I. INTRODUCTION Climate change affects the entire world. Populations began to demand action in 1998 prompted by the Kyoto Protocol and through the most recent COP21 Paris Climate Conference, held in Paris in December The UN member states want a binding agreement on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Prior to the COP21, awareness campaigns have been organized throughout the world with the "Walk for Climate" events. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has followed suit and marches were held in November 2015 in three locations: Kinshasa, the national capital of the DRC; Matadi, the the DRC s chief seaport city located along the Congo River inland from the Atlantic Ocean in the Bas-Congo Province; and Lwiro, an area nestled between the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Lake Kivu, north of the South Kivu Province capital city of Bukavu. The main theme of all three marches was "CLIMATE MATTERS TO ALL" as a way to inform a broad section of the population. II. ACTIVITIES More than 500 participants representing the Schools, Higher Institutions and Academics, researchers, NGOs National and International, United Nations members, civil society, churches, provincial authorities support FEC, Bralima Society, National Institute of Social Security (INSS), Ets Muyeye, BCDC Bank, the Press, and members of the community took part in the event in Lwiro. The Congolese Foresters Network (CFN) is an active stakeholder in forest conservation for the reduction of Greenhouse Gases, and has actively participated in the World March for Climate and at the symposium organized by the NSRF in Lwiro. The CFN helped push forward efforts in collaboration with the NSRF for: 1. Evaluation of climate parameters at the Lwiro station and its surroundings 2. Evidence of climate change in the Albertine Rift by the presence of chytridiomycosis in amphibians 3. The problem of global warming and its challenges in the South Kivu province. What arrangements 4. Eight decades of Meteorology in Bukavu 5. Relationship of mammals to climate change 6. Resilience against climate change 7. Climate change in Lwiro and exceptional presence of mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae), one of the most pervasive vectors of malaria, at over 1900m altitude 8. Impact of climate change on food security in Kabare 9. Ecological Exploitation of the deposit of methane gas from Lake Kivu and CO2 waste management 10. The potential financial costs of climate change are of urban and rural health citoyens: a case study of vibrio cholerae infection at Bukavu Town, South Kivu, of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo 11. Statistics of members / South Kivu on climate change 12. Peat: potential energy source to help reduce deforestation 13. Civil protection and natural disaster prevention program in South Kivu Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 2

3 14. Social Security The CFN produced an exhibition for the event with information pamphlets and brochures in French and English. A large number of participants visited CFN s exhibition during the event. The event highlighted South Kivu Province s increased vulnerability natural disasters due to its mountainous location. Some of the main factors that determine the climate of South Kivu are its the latitude and altitude. The mountainous Kivu, that is to say, the Eastern Province has a mountain climate with mild temperatures, with a dry season usually ranging between three and four months from June to September in the past, but today the season extends from four for five months in May to October. For Bukavu and Goma, the average annual temperature is about 19 C (66 F), while the highlands of Minembwe, Mulenge, Kalonge and the Kahuzi-Biega mountains are even cooler. These regions consist of a tiered and predominantly grassy mountain vegetation. By contrast, central and especially the western South Kivu, particularly the territories of Shabunda and Mwenga experienced more of an equatorial climate consistent with a rainforest due to the heavy rains most of the year. Yet today that is no longer the case. However, the Ruzizi plain experiences a microclimate, a tropical climate tending to be dry with rain measuring roughly 1.000m / year, consisting of vegetation with grasslands dotted with spiny cactus. It is this region that produces the rich flora of South Kivu, sheltering one of the best natural parks in the world, Kahuzi-Biega. The KBNP is a place where you meet the mountain gorillas filled with a forest of bamboo. The region has seen a continued reduction in the water levels of the lakes and rivers each year. Today global warming, deforestation, over-production of logging, (including some 13 million hectares of forests are destroyed each year), 30% of our biodiversity has already disappeared over the last 40 years. Given this dire situation fact, thousands of species may disappear. 1. Dire Findings: Climate disruption that generates that already generates a drought in the Ruzizi plains Low agricultural production Even lower levels of water in Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River Disruption of natural seasons Increase in the effects of global warming: o Deforestation from misguided agricultural production o Increased agriculture on slopes which creates land erosions o Mismanaged Construction o Water pollution o Poor waste management in the province 2. Consequences for the Region : Climate change Destruction of the watershed Leaching of the ground soil Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 3

4 Water pollution Sedimentation Proliferation of diseases Migration of animal populations Low agricultural production 3. Track Solutions: Creation of forests Reforestation of deforested site Extension of the rural agroforestry Sustainable waste management Extension of the use of improved stoves Sustainable forest management III. CONCLUSION Deforestation, over-production from logging (13 million hectares of forest are destroyed each year) are the main factors contributing to climate change in the region. The CFN, as stakeholders in the region who fight climate change through the promotion of sustainable forest management and the welfare of the population, actively participated in this event with a presentation on "Evidence of climate change: chytridiomycosis to Batrachochytium dendrobatidis, Bd, Albertine Rift hang in the scientific symposium, exhibition of CFN materials, such as magazines, brochures and exhibition activities and interviews. Photo: Exhibition of RCF products plants, agricultural tools, journals, brochures and the exposure of the organization's activities. Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 4

5 Photos: Skeletons of warthogs in the museum of the NSRF Lwiro. Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 5

6 Photo: Biotope black face Chimp Photos: Biotope to python Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 6

7 Photos: Viper Hornless Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 7

8 Some of the CFN workers and students who participated from the global march for climate. Photo: Evidence of climate change in the Albertine Rift by the presence of chytridiomycosis in amphibians Presentor: Zacharie Chifundera Kusamba Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians Herpetology Laboratory Natural Science Research Center (CRSN) Lwiro Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 8

9 The secretary general of Congolese Foresters Network, Prof. Zechariah Chifundera, is shown during his presentation on "Evidence of climate change: to Batrachochytium dendrobatidis chytridiomycosis, Bd, in the Albertine Rift. CFN General Coordinator Elikia Amani provides explanations on climate change at the RTNC journalist for the replay to the media. Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 9

10 Photo: Event participants enjoy a concert after the event. On behalf of the Congolese Foresters Network, AMANI ELIKIA Coordonnateur Général Report on the DRC World March for Climate Change Event, November 28-29, 2015, page 10