Maniema, September 2, 2025 — In response to the growing pressure on the forests of the Congo Basin, environmental civil society in Maniema is mobilizing around a strategic focus: securing the forest concessions of local communities and Indigenous peoples as a lasting measure against illegal exploitation.
Supported by the Congo Basin Conservation Society (CBCS-Network) and its partners, an innovative project is underway in the provinces of Maniema and South Kivu. Its goal is to strengthen community movements capable of influencing public policy in favor of agroecology, while also enhancing forest protection outside of designated protected areas.
Agroecology is being positioned as a structural solution in this approach. By leveraging traditional knowledge, local biodiversity, and principles of climate resilience, agroecology offers a credible response to rampant deforestation and the pressures of industrial agriculture. The objective is clear: integrate agroecology with the securing of community forests, recognizing the central role of local populations who are often excluded from major decision-making processes. The project aims to empower these communities as full participants in forest conservation by equipping them with the legal and political tools needed to manage their land.
With its 8 million hectares of forest, Maniema is a strategic ecological stronghold in the DRC, accounting for 9% of all the country’s forest cover. This valuable resource is currently under threat from large-scale illegal exploitation. Precious species such as Mukula are systematically targeted by networks operating entirely outside the law—amid corruption, violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights, and intimidation of environmental defenders. According to available data, the province contains 32 forest reserves, 5 logging sites, and 19 commercially valuable timber species. In this context, securing at least 9 community forest concessions is a tangible step forward—both for ecosystem preservation and for the protection of customary land rights.
This movement has found favorable reception from provincial authorities. Last February, Maniema Governor Moussa Kabwankubi Moise convened an unprecedented conference on the environment, tourism, agriculture, and water, focused on sustainable development. The initiative was welcomed by civil society organizations, which saw it as an opportunity to align their efforts with a broader provincial vision.
The growing grassroots awareness observed in southern Maniema reflects a mounting willingness among local populations to take ownership of forest reform. This mobilization builds on localized awareness campaigns led by environmental actors and is now gaining political momentum thanks to the alliance between civil society, technical partners, and rural communities. As the DRC continues its commitments under international climate agreements, this local initiative serves as a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth: no conservation policy can succeed without the direct involvement of the communities who live in and depend on the forests.
By Kilalopress