How agroforestry & Net Zero ambitions can boost development & protect tropical forests in the Congo Basin?

The Congo Basin is the second largest tropical forest in the world. A critical carbon sink and biodiversity reservoir. Yet restoration only holds if it creates real economic value for the communities who live there.

François Toussaint (Envirium) and Antoine Geerinckx (Positive Impact Team) present a community carbon model built around the Virunga National Park: forest restoration, agroforestry, and local economic development working together. By diversifying community revenues, the projects reduce pressure on forests and make preservation economically sustainable. Without local economic incentives, large-scale restoration cannot succeed.

For companies, this is a voluntary climate contribution complementary to scope 1, 2 and 3 reductions. Where the project sits in the supply chain, it can also qualify as insetting and contribute directly to scope 3 reduction.

The session covers what makes these investments credible: community governance, financial transparency, fair benefit-sharing, traceability, results measurement, and ethical requirements.

Speakers : François Toussaint, Envirium & Antoine Geerinckx, Positive Impact Team.