Country Recognized for Its High Ecological Integrity – a World First!

The Republic of Congo has become home to the world’s first site recognized for its high ecological integrity, a measure of the region’s robust natural processes and resilience against disturbances essential for conserving biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change.

“By recognizing areas of high ecological integrity, we are ensuring the protection of ecosystems that are vital for the survival of countless species and the overall health of our planet,” states Richard Malonga, Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) identification process “is a significant milestone for global conservation efforts.”

The KBA Standard, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), came up with rigorous criteria for identifying sites globally significant for biodiversity persistence, and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park fulfils them all. Under WCS management for over 30 years, the park covers 4,000 km2 of lowland rainforest, harbours crucial populations of endangered mammals, has never been logged, doesn’t’ contain roads within its borders, boasts wildlife that had little or no contact with humans and plays a significant role in climate regulation and carbon storage.