Local Communities Take the Lead in Wildlife Conservation

For the first time, a Congolese conservation organisation will co-manage a protected area in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening community-led efforts to protect biodiversity.

“I think the government chose us because they have observed the work we have done in the biodiversity corridor and the way we have put local communities at the centre of conservation,” says Dominique Bikaba, founder of the NGO Strong Roots.

Under a 10-year partnership with the national wildlife authority, Strong Roots will manage the 760,000-hectare Itombwe Nature Reserve, home to nearly 600 bird species and critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas. The organisation has already secured 23 community forest concessions covering almost 600,000 hectares, contributing to a planned 1-million-hectare biodiversity corridor. Its approach combines traditional conservation knowledge with modern practices, involving residents in wildlife protection, strengthening efforts against poaching and illegal mining, and creating opportunities for communities to benefit from conservation.