USD $5.8 million approved for community-based conservation in DRC's Tanganyika province
The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund approves its first-ever project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Community-Based Conservation for Biodiversity and Livelihoods in the Context of Climate Change project channels USD $5.8 million to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and enhance stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) while promoting sustainable development and climate resilience in Tanganyika Province.
The project will support policies and practices that conserve biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration and storage, improve climate resilience, and uplift the livelihoods of local communities. By fostering inclusive decision-making through a human-rights based approach, the project aims to enhance the effectiveness of IPLC-driven conservation.
"This project illustrates an ambitious vision for the DRC: conservation based on knowledge and community mobilization. By putting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the center of solutions, we are building together a sustainable response to biodiversity loss and climate change challenges. FAO is honored to contribute to this transformative dynamic"explained Athman Mravili, FAO Representative a.i. in the DRC. The project aims to strengthen national and local policies to support IPLC stewardship and governance of community-based conservation. The project targets 14,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems for restoration and aims to place 150,000 hectares of community and Indigenous lands under improved practices. 10,000 households will benefit from training in biodiversity-friendly enterprises and sustainable alternative livelihoods.
The project will document and disseminate successes in community-led conservation through experiential learning, sharing best practices, and integrating successful approaches into academic curricula.
The project will be piloted in the Tanganyika province, specifically in the Nyunzu and Kabalo territories, and replicable models for integrating Indigenous rights, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development can be scaled out nationally. In this province, the project's action is fully consistent with the provincial government's 2024 - 2028 Action Program in its pillar 6 relating to the sustainable and responsible management of the province's ecosystems in the face of climate change. In addition, the project will contribute to strategic objectives 3 and 4 of the Provincial Sustainable Solutions Strategy 2025-2029, which systematically integrate environmental protection measures in the province for more sustainable production of ecosystems and a significant reduction in the causes of climate change, while promoting equal access to natural resources for communities with the aim of building and/or maintaining a climate of peace.
“This GBFF project enhances the key role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in biodiversity protection and resilience” said GEF CEO and Chairperson, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez. “It demonstrates the important role of the GEF, the financial mechanism of the CBD supporting implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.”
As part of the Global Environment Facility’s family of funds, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund supports countries in achieving their commitments to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This project supports the implementation of DRC's revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026-2030 and will contribute towards nine targets under the KMGBF.
The project is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and will be executed jointly by the Sustainable Development Directorate (DDD) of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) and Alliance Nationale d’Appui et de Promotion des Aires et territoires du Patrimoine Autochone et Communautaire en République Démocratique du Congo (ANAPAC RDC).