At the World Economic Forum last week, Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi announced the creation of a Green Corridor—a new category of protected area designed to reconcile protection of some of the world’s largest remaining expanses of forest with the urgent need for economic development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The design of the corridor, which 11th Hour Program staff and grantees were invited to advise on, will cover an area of 200,000 square miles. It aims to protect nearly 40,000 square miles of primary forest, while also creating the enabling conditions—such as fiscal incentives, financing, and funding—for sustainable, inclusive economic development within the boundaries of the reserve.
A key principle of the Green Corridor is respect for the rights of local and indigenous communities, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). This initiative, which former U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry called “the strongest and most exciting proposal [he’s] been privileged to be part of at the World Economic Forum,” aims to create 500,000 new jobs and transfer one million tons of locally grown food to DRC’s capital of Kinshasa, Africa’s largest city.The Green Corridor builds on the Virunga Alliance model—a transformative economic approach that focuses on sustainable natural resource management and local, inclusive development. For years, the Schmidt Family Foundation (TSFF) has supported the Virunga Alliance’s initiatives through impact investing and grant-making, including in micro-hydropower electricity and small-scale entrepreneurship.
To watch a short video about the Green Corridor, President Tshisekedi’s announcement and John Kerry’s remarks at Davos, click here.