25 



-4- 



countries to take measures to mitigate climate change by 

 addressing their emissions of C02 and other greenhouse gasses, 

 and increasing their carbon absorbing capacity (by, for 

 example, reforestation projects or new emissions reduction 

 technology) . Under the concept of "Joint Implementation" 

 (agreed in a non-crediting pilot phgase at the first Conference 

 of the Parties in Berlin) developed countries can reduce 

 emissions by investing money abroad to help other countries 

 reduce their emissions or increase their carbon absorption 

 capacity. 



Bilateral Assistance 



Our bilateral programs address many key aspects of the 

 African environment. Let me discuss this topic under 

 habitat-related headings: 



Rainforests . Central Africa has the world's second largest 

 expanse of moist tropical forest, after the Amazon. A proposed 

 new regional project, the Central African Regional Program for 

 the Environment (CARPE) will bolster the forest management 

 capacity of governments, support project work by 

 non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and increase our scanty 

 knowledge of this vast resource. 



Arid and Semi-Arid . These are the present and potential 

 "dust bowls" of Africa, breeding grounds of starvation, the 

 subject of the Desertification Convention, and a major focus of 

 AID'S Natural Resource Management Programming. We have learned 

 that when farmers have a stake in land management planning -- 

 when it is not simply imposed on them from above — they will 

 not only produce more, but do so with techniques, such as 

 composting and diversified cropping, which sustain production 

 and help preserve the natural resource base. USAID's total 

 environmental spending in Africa, mainly on this kind of 

 activity, will amount to an estimated $82.3 million in 1995. 



Urban Environment . For Africans, indeed for just about 

 anyone, the most important corner of the environment is one's 

 own front or back yard. For villagers, access to clean water 

 remains fundamentally important. For city dwellers, waste 

 disposal is often another high priority. Permanent, 

 sustainable solutions to these problems and many more depend 

 above all on healthy per capita economic growth and a rate of 

 population increase which does not outstrip the ability of 

 heavily burdened governments to provide services. Our aid 

 programs, technical agencies and the Peace Corps can often 

 provide relevant expertise. 



Elephant Country . As you know, the management of African 

 elephants is the subject of ongoing debate. The United States 

 recognizes the need for concerned populations to derive benefit 

 from elephants, at the same time that we recognize the extreme 

 danger of reopening the ivory trade. We believe that solutions 

 to the elephant issue must be long-term and regional in nature. 



