Congolese NGO to Manage Major Protected Area for First Time

Strong Roots will co-manage the Itombwe Nature Reserve in DRC for 10 years, focusing on community-centered conservation and conflict reduction.

A Congolese nongovernmental organization will co-manage a protected area in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time in the country’s modern history, according to a Mongabay report. Strong Roots, the NGO, has been entrusted with the management of Itombwe Nature Reserve (RNI) in South Kivu province, northeast DRC.

This public-private partnership grants Strong Roots management responsibilities for 10 years. The Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), the national body for natural parks, will maintain oversight of the reserve. Dominique Bikaba, founder of Strong Roots, called the appointment an honor. He told Mongabay the government observed their work in a biodiversity corridor and their approach to community-centered conservation.

Strong Roots has spent a decade securing land for communities and wildlife. This effort created a 1-million-hectare corridor between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve. The organization has secured 23 community forest concessions, covering nearly 600,000 hectares, within this area. Bikaba noted his organization already works with four of Itombwe’s seven chiefdoms. He stated this provides a strong understanding of the reserve’s issues and requirements.

Bikaba, a member of an Indigenous community displaced for another protected area, emphasizes local populations in conservation efforts. Many protected areas in the DRC were formed through Indigenous displacement, leading to conflicts between park staff and local communities. The Itombwe area also experiences clashes involving armed groups such as M23, Wazalendo, and Mai-Mai.

Strong Roots plans to integrate traditional and modern conservation methods to reduce species decline and existing conflicts. The organization intends to recruit community members for patrol roles. Bikaba said this collaboration aims to reduce the likelihood of local populations joining armed groups for survival. Strong Roots also hopes to reinforce anti-poaching and anti-mining laws, while moving away from armed, military-style enforcement.

The Itombwe Nature Reserve, established in 2006, spans around 760,000 hectares. It provides habitat for nearly 600 bird species and is a sanctuary for the critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas, also known as Grauer’s gorillas.

For travelers and hosts considering stays in regions near conservation areas, this development signals a shift towards community-inclusive management models in the DRC.