France, March 3 -- Congo-Brazzaville and Madagascar are combining efforts to protect their primary forests, which support rich ecosystems and rare wildlife but face increasing threats from deforestation. The countries marked the launch of their conservation drive by planting 3,000 trees in Madagascar on Monday, African Environment Day.

Madagascar has been particularly hard hit by deforestation, having lost half its forests over the past 60 years.

While Congo-Brazzaville has maintained a low deforestation rate compared to neighbouring countries in the Congo Basin, its forests are increasingly under pressure from logging, agriculture and infrastructure development.

The forest partnershipbuilds on an existing cooperation deal signed betwe...