§ Lord Eden of Wintonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the World Bank and to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the re-zoning of the Congo forests and the expansion of industrial logging bearing in mind the need to consider the rights of the people living in the forests. [HL3930]
§ Baroness AmosOfficials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in dialogue with the World Bank about its assistance to the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From discussions with the World Bank, DfID's understanding is that the World Bank is supporting a process designed to increase transparency within the forest sector in the DRC, and curb illegal logging.
The World Bank is working with the Government of DRC and other partners to ensure that forest activities are carried out in a sustainable manner with due regard to protection of the environment, and with participation of all stakeholders—especially the poor. A pilot of participatory forest zoning is under preparation and will involve considerable consultation with people living in forest areas. Securing the rights of local people and promoting the participation of local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in DRC is a particular focus.
DfID has also discussed possible UK Government support to strengthen natural resource governance with the Transitional National Government (TNG) in DRC and have made the TNG aware of the need to meet the provisions of the Forest Code by ensuring the rights of local communities and ensuring commercial logging contributes to national development and poverty reduction.