To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to international institutions on the protection of the Congo rainforest. (150175)

The Government maintain a regular dialogue with the World Bank, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Government to help develop innovative forest management and financing systems that provide alternatives to industrial logging. The Department for International Development-funded Roundtable Review is bringing together the World Bank, international NGOs and other key actors in a constructive dialogue to shape the future of the DRC's forests in a way that benefits the people of the DRC. The Government have pledged a US$500,000 contribution to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund to improve forest governance which will enable us to work with the World Bank, the EU, France and Belgium who are all key international players with important roles to play in support of the DRC's forests. And the UK's contribution of £50 million for the Congo Basin Initiative will support the important work to protect the Congo basin forests and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.