Congolese NGO takes over co-management of itombwe nature reserve

The Congolese government and the ICCN, a public body managing protected areas, began co-managing the Itombwe Nature Reserve with the local organization Strong Roots Congo.

This marks the first time a Congolese organization has shared management responsibilities for a protected area under the ICCN in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The reserve covers 5,000 square kilometers in the Mwenga territory of South Kivu province. It serves as a home for various species, most notably the Grauer's gorilla.

The site sits at the edge of a community forest corridor that aims to connect the reserve to the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Strong Roots Congo plans to focus on reforestation efforts at two sites near the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Dominique Bikaba, the founder of the organization, stated that these efforts aim to promote agroforestry. This strategy intends to provide wood resources to nearby communities to prevent the destruction of the park.