Descendants of families displaced by Maiko National Park in the DRC are now spearheading community-led conservation efforts in the Bamasobha Local Community Forest Concession. Through monitoring illegal activities, promoting sustainable resource management, and fostering coexistence with the forest, they have successfully reduced forest loss in the concession. This shift towards inclusive forest management is part of a growing trend of community forest concessions in the DRC, providing Indigenous communities with a crucial alternative for preserving forest resources.
Tag: DRC
-
Congo’s communities are creating a 1-million-hectare biodiversity corridor
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.
-
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