Central African Republic - Forest Ecosystem Accounts and Policy Recommendations

Overview & Synopsis

The forests of the Central African Republic (CAR) are among the nation’s most vital natural assets. Covering nearly one-fifth of the national territory, these forests provide vital domestic benefits, fuelwood, timber, bushmeat, sediment retention, and nature-based tourism, contributing directly to livelihoods and the national economy. As part of the Congo Basin, CAR’s forests also play a globally significant role in stabilizing the climate by acting as a net carbon sink, storing close to 2.9 billion tons of carbon in 2020, equivalent to more than one-third of annual global CO₂ emissions from the energy sector. According to the country report, the total annual value of forest ecosystem services rose from about US 18.6 billion dollars in 2000 to US 37.3 billion dollars in 2020, with global climate regulation through carbon retention representing the lion’s share of this value. However, only a fraction of these global benefits accrues domestically. US 394 million dollars in 2020, underlining the urgency of establishing fair and innovative financing mechanisms to capture and reinvest these values nationally. The total asset value of forests doubled over the period, reaching US 1.7 trillion dollars in 2020, yet per capita forest wealth declined by 13 percent when global carbon values are excluded, reflecting rising demographic pressures and unsustainable use of domestic forest resources. CAR has a window of opportunity to avoid the costly forest transition trap experienced elsewhere. By embedding ecosystem values into national statistics and policy frameworks, the country can make informed decisions that balance economic development with long-term conservation and use the accounts as a foundation for accessing performance-based climate and biodiversity finance to secure resources commensurate with its contribution to global environmental stability. These forest accounts were developed for the first time for CAR.