Kinshasa – On Monday, November 3, the Fleuve Congo Hotel in Kinshasa provided a solemn setting for the launch of the workshop to revise the Action Plan for the Conservation of Great Apes (CAP) in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This 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, marks a decisive step in efforts to preserve the Grauer’s gorillas and Eastern chimpanzees — iconic yet critically endangered species listed by the IUCN.
Over five days, from November 3 to 7, national and international experts, representatives of public institutions, NGOs, Indigenous peoples, and local communities united within the Ushiriki consortium will assess progress made since 2011, update scientific data, and draw up a new ten-year roadmap for 2026–2036.
The opening ceremony paid tribute to the primatologists who have recently passed away, leaving behind significant legacies in the conservation of great apes. In his address, the Executive Director of JGI paid homage to the late Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and to Professor Dr. Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose.
“This moment offers us an opportunity to reflect on her remarkable legacy and to consider how to carry forward her immense work,” he said, before inviting attendees to observe a minute of silence in memory of the British primatologist and other conservation figures, including Professor Basabose.
The tone of the workshop was thus set — one of memory, responsibility, and continuity. Speaking on behalf of the ICCN Director General, Mr. Paulin Tshikaya emphasized the need to revisit protection strategies in light of new field realities.
“Faced with growing challenges threatening our ecosystems, it is imperative that we adapt our strategies, strengthen our synergies, and learn from past experiences,” he affirmed.
He underscored adaptive management as the key — a framework that integrates local community realities with the latest scientific data to build sustainable solutions. Tshikaya also praised field teams “who, often under difficult conditions, work tirelessly for Congolese biodiversity.”
The Executive Director of JGI–DRC, Mr. Emola Pippen-Hashim Makambo, explained to the press that this review continues the process initiated in 2011 and updated in 2015.
“The previous CAP phase ends this year. We are developing a new roadmap for 2026–2036, evaluating results from the past twelve years, and aligning our actions with national biodiversity conservation strategies, notably the SPANBIC,” he detailed.
The workshop follows the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation and emphasizes participatory threat analysis, stakeholder mapping, and the redefinition of “focal values” — key biodiversity and human well-being targets at the heart of the CAP’s new approach.
For Mr. Urbain Ngobobo, Country Director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF), the CAP review comes at a crucial time.
“Grauer’s gorillas are now among the world’s most threatened species. Poaching, deforestation, artisanal mining, and insecurity linked to armed groups continue to shrink their habitat,” he said.
But he also pointed to a sign of hope:
“We have observed positive trends in the abundance and distribution of great apes. This is why it’s vital to revise our strategies to consolidate these gains.”
Beyond the speeches, this first day underscored a shared determination to build a new model of conservation — one that blends science, community engagement, and institutional coordination. Discussions laid the groundwork for collaborative planning to identify priorities, assess results chains, and produce by week’s end a robust and inclusive 2026 Action Plan.
In Kinshasa, this opening day hinted at a workshop that could prove pivotal for the future of the Congo’s great apes. For beyond statistics and logical frameworks lies a deeper issue — one of national pride and ecological legacy: ensuring that future generations will still witness the majestic presence of these creatures in the forests of the East.
By Kilalopress
