Minister of Environment Say Samal met with Sandy Andelman, representative of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), to discuss initiating a new project with the support of the Green Climate Fund, according to a March 2 announcement from the Ministry of Environment.

The meeting focused on three tasks. They intend to provide loans to local forest communities through domestic partner financial institutions, help improve forest conservation to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse emissions and climate change, and provide technical assistance for credit carbon management.

The meeting came as the minister fulfilled an official mission on March 1-2 in Libreville, Gabon, where he is attending the One Forest Summit, chaired by Gabon environment minister Lee White.

The programme aimed to come up with methods to protect forests while reducing greenhouse emissions and combatting climate change. The summit also discussed sustainable financing mechanisms that would help develop local economies which often suffer the effects of climate change.