Kinshasa – After five days of intensive discussions, conservation experts and stakeholders have endorsed the key elements of the revised Great Apes Conservation Action Plan (2026–2036). The new plan aims to ensure viable populations of gorillas and chimpanzees, preserve the ecological diversity of their habitats, and strengthen local community engagement in the protection of these iconic species of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The workshop, organized by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in partnership with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, concluded this Friday in Kinshasa. Scientists, park managers, NGO representatives, Indigenous peoples, and public authorities came together around a shared goal: to rethink the protection of Grauer’s gorillas and eastern chimpanzees—two emblematic species now facing severe threats.
Over the five days, participants revisited the strategies first developed in 2011 and updated in 2015, adapting them to today’s security and socio-economic realities. The new ten-year plan (2026–2036) is built around an ambitious vision: to secure viable great ape populations, preserve the ecological diversity of their habitats, and make their conservation a source of national pride through the active participation of local communities.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Radar Nishuli, Director of Lomami National Park, praised the spirit of collaboration that characterized the discussions.
“Together, we can do it. I could not have imagined that we could produce such a solid plan in just five days. That wasn’t the case in 2015. Today, I can already see the backbone of our plan,” he said, emphasizing the need for continuous evaluation and shared management: “We are not in competition but in complementarity. Where my skills end, another’s begin. We must consolidate our inventories and databases to ensure successful implementation and facilitate the work of both the current and future coordination teams.”
This participatory dynamic reflects a new maturity among conservation actors, who now recognize that only a collective approach can meet field challenges. According to Emola Pippen-Hashim Makambo, Executive Director of JGI-DRC, the new plan marks a strategic turning point.
“We have reviewed the main pressures, focal values, and the results chain for the 2026–2036 decade. One of the key achievements is the inclusion of local knowledge and the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to evaluate real progress,” he explained.
Makambo emphasized that great ape protection can only be effective if it is community-driven and inclusive:
“Communities share the same environment as these species. It is impossible to achieve results without placing them at the heart of every field action. We have also developed a strategy to address the security context, recognizing insecurity itself as a direct pressure on biodiversity.”
This approach is based on three pillars: advocacy, alternative livelihood actions, and the involvement of actors from areas affected by armed groups, some of whom have already expressed their willingness to contribute to natural resource protection.
On the ground, challenges remain numerous, but optimism is returning. Benoît Kisuki, Deputy Commander of the CORPPN, described the revision as
“the result of intense, forward-looking collective work.” He added: “We discussed genuinely threatened species living in insecure zones. It was inspiring to hear from field colleagues and learn about the efforts each one is making to protect chimpanzees, gorillas, and their habitats. Together, we built a plan centered on three key axes: species and habitat security, scientific research, and community involvement.”
For Albert Walanga, Chair of the Board of the Environmental Protection Network (RPE), the role of local populations remains central:
“We gathered as much information as possible to develop this plan. Among the priorities identified are the recognition of traditional knowledge, the centralization and sharing of data, and the improvement of community livelihoods. These measures will create a lasting link between conservation and development.”
In closing remarks, Dr. Kizito Kakule, Country Coordinator of PASA-DRC, commended the quality and continuity of the process:
“This plan succeeds the 2015–2025 version. We now have a clear baseline for the next ten years. This collective work, enriched by field experience, will strengthen great ape conservation and help reduce the threats they face.” He added that activities led by the Ushiriki Consortium will also support monitoring of associated species such as elephants and small primates within the Maiko–Tayna–Kahuzi-Biega–Itombwe landscape.
By all accounts, the Kinshasa workshop resulted in a more inclusive, pragmatic plan rooted in local realities. The priority actions identified—environmental education, expansion of conservation areas, zoonotic disease prevention, data centralization, and local capacity building—now form the foundation of a collective commitment to protecting eastern Congo’s primates. As participants left the Hôtel Fleuve Congo on Friday evening, there was a shared sense of achievement. The great apes—true living treasures of Congo—can now look forward to a decade of strengthened protection and renewed attention.
