THE PROBLEM
A multidimensional challenge
The crisis in the Congo Basin stems from deeply rooted structural challenges that have driven local communities to depend heavily on forest resources for their survival.
Forests as the primary resource base
In the absence of viable opportunities for food security and income generation, activities such as slash-and-burn agriculture, wood fuel production (Makala), and unsustainable logging have become widespread livelihood strategies.
Limited awareness of alternatives
Communities often depend on traditional practices due to a lack of knowledge about sustainable options, which can harm both the environment and their own well-being.
Community Exclusion
Conservation approaches that exclude local populations often generate conflict and fail to foster meaningful community engagement or ownership
A self-reinforcing destructive cycle
As forests degrade, soil fertility declines, poverty deepens, and pressure on natural resources intensifies—ultimately undermining the Congo Basin’s critical role in global climate regulation.
A historical decision – A one in a million Opportunity
A major breakthrough has been achieved in the Équateur Province: following strategic engagement with FANYATU and the PHC Fondation, the Provincial Governor has officially made logging illegal in the province. This historical political move creates a rare and powerful opportunity for large-scale regeneration and conservation projects.