Strong Roots Congo is working to create a 1-million-hectare corridor between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve in the DRC by securing community forest concessions. The project aims to rectify past displacements caused by the creation of the national park and engage communities in conservation. Despite challenges, the initiative has secured 23 community forest concessions covering nearly 600,000 hectares. The corridor will allow species to move safely between protected areas and promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of local communities. The initiative also aims to bridge the gap between modern and customary laws regarding forest land ownership, reduce the impacts of armed conflict on forests and wildlife, and protect Indigenous peoples from land grabbing.
Tag: DRC
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At the City of Joy, Women Learn to Farm, Heal, and Lead
The City of Joy in Bukavu, DRC, provides a safe space for women who have experienced violence to heal and become leaders in their communities. The program includes education, therapy, and practical skills like farming, with a focus on integrating climate change into its curriculum due to the region's extreme weather events. Graduates are reintegrated into their communities with ongoing support and guidance, emphasizing a healthy relationship with the earth and sustainability. Despite facing severe impacts from climate change, the DRC contributes very little to global carbon dioxide emissions, with efforts like planting trees and employing graduates on the farm contributing to environmental conservation.
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-4-winter/feature/city-joy-women-learn-farm-heal-and-lead