French Minister in Cameroon to discuss climate and deforestation

The French Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie Annick Girardin arrived on Sunday in Yaounde for a three-day visit to Cameroon, particularly devoted to the question of climate and deforestation, said a journalist from AFP.

Ms. Girardin chained immediately after arriving embarked on a series of forest trips forty kilometers south of the capital. The visit comes one month to the 21st UN Climate Conference (COP21), which begins on November 30 in Paris.

Cameroon has already made its contribution to the Summit by providing for a reduction in its emissions of greenhouse gas by 32% by 2035. It is among the countries that points to the subject with a position aligned with that of the Africa group, demanding a fair and legally binding agreement and a greater commitment from donors.

Covered by nearly 50% of forest, Cameroon is concerned with more than one global warming issue, with deforestation, north desertification, coastal erosion, urban development ...

The country is located in the heart of the rainforest of Central Africa, the second forest basin in the world after the Amazon and one of the main carbon sinks (CO2) in the world.

The visit of Ms. Girardin will also be devoted to the threat of Nigerian Islamist Boko Haram in the far north, and the strong cooperation between France and Cameroon, we are told by French diplomatic sources.

She will also discuss with her hosts the issue of 310,000 refugees (250,000 Nigerians and 60,000 Central Africans) currently on the territory, as well as several other issues of bilateral interests, says the same source.

The French minister is due to meet on Monday, President Paul Biya and talk with several members of the government, including the Foreign Minister, Mr Mbella Mbella.

Since her arrival Sunday Girardin visited the National School of Forestry of Mbalmayo, about thirty kilometers south of the capital, where she was presented with the problem of forests in Cameroon.

She then visited the small village of Nsimi to see the Observatory of the Nyong basin that collects data to better understand climate mechanisms. She also visited Méfou Park, home to nearly 400 primates in semi-freedom, often former victims of poaching and trafficking.