Congo basin launches groundbreaking mobile payment system to reward communities for forest conservation

Six Congo Basin nations have unveiled an innovative “payment for environmental services” program that puts money directly into the hands of local communities and farmers who protect and restore Africa’s vast rainforests. Announced at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, this pioneering initiative uses mobile technology to transfer payments to participants who engage in verified conservation activities.

The program, backed by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) and implemented with help from WWF International, compensates individuals and communities for six key environmental activities: agroforestry, reforestation, deforestation-free farming, forest regeneration, sustainable forest management, and conservation efforts. Participants receive payments through a mobile app once their conservation work is verified, creating a direct financial incentive to protect one of the world’s most critical carbon-absorbing ecosystems.

Early results show promising momentum. Hundreds of farmers have already signed contracts and received their first mobile payments this month, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness. In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo, conservation contracts now cover nearly 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), benefiting approximately 10,000 people directly and indirectly. Gabon plans to expand further, with 15 villages set to sign community conservation agreements covering 50,000 hectares (123,600 acres) in early 2025.

Building on a decade of successful pilot projects, CAFI has committed an additional $100 million to scale up the program beyond the initial $25 million investment. This approach represents a significant shift toward empowering local communities as forest guardians while providing them with sustainable income alternatives to activities that harm the environment.