Saving Acres and Strengthening Communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In August 2022 , Rainforest Trust and our local Congolese partner , Strong Roots , reached a significant milestone with the protection of 636,309 acres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ). The success of this project propelled the total number of acres protected by Rainforest Trust over the 40 million-acre mark .
The threatened Congo Basin forest spans six countries — Cameroon , Central African Republic , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea and Gabon . It is home to the second largest rainforest in the world , with 60 % located within the Democratic Republic of the Congo . A hotspot of biodiversity , this irreplaceable region harbors more than 10,000 species of wildlife and 600 tree species .
In August of 2021 , our five-year project began with the goal of protecting 769,543 acres of forest and grasslands for numerous species while securing land tenure for fifteen local communities in the Congo . In just one year , 83 % of the proposed total acres were protected and 15 local communities secured their land rights from the Governor of the South Kivu Province in the DRC . Together , these designated lands now form a conservation corridor between two existing protected areas — Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve .
Working with local and Indigenous community members , Strong Roots shared knowledge and provided guidance to support their application to the provincial government for land tenure . In addition , Strong Roots carried out a series of community consultations and workshops to help set up Community Conservation Committees . This will help local and Indigenous Peoples to maintain a sustainable way of life for themselves while supporting the preservation of Kahuzi- Biega National Park and the Itombwe Nature Reserve corridor .
These newly protected acres will safeguard many of the world ’ s rarest species from deforestation and habitat loss . This is especially important for the Eastern Gorilla ( CR ) and other primate groups that require large territories to forage and socialize between family groups . This protected corridor is also a refuge for the African Forest Elephant ( CR ), Hooded Vulture ( CR ), Massif Clawed Frog ( EN ) and many other imperiled species .
The success of this project is a victory for biodiversity conservation , human rights and livelihood improvements in the Eastern DRC and the broader Congo Basin . As a result , forests , wildlife and local peoples are safeguarded for the future . background drc landscape | STRONG ROOTS
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