Country brief: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Country brief: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, home to over 10,000 plant species and iconic wildlife like mountain gorillas, bonobos, okapis, and forest elephants. Its ecosystems include the vast Congo Basin rainforest, savannas, wetlands, and montane forests, many of which are globally significant. However, this biodiversity faces significant conservation challenges, exacerbated by socioeconomic instability. Poaching, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trade are rampant, driven by the high demand for bushmeat and animal parts. Armed groups further complicate conservation efforts, creating insecurity in remote areas and impeding law enforcement’s ability to combat wildlife crime effectively.

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2025

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Tackling emerging conservation threats in Africa

This report will showcase the variety of actions undertaken over the years and discuss some of the key lessons learnt, but above all it will provide a platform to appreciate the crucial role that civil society actors and local communities play in protecting threatened species in Africa.

Country brief: Cameroon

Cameroon hosts rich biodiversity that stretches across its savannahs, forests, and freshwater ecosystems, supporting over 9,000 plant species, 900 bird species, and nearly 300 mammal species, including iconic and endangered animals like forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, and manatees. The country has established over 20 protected areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserves) to safeguard this natural heritage in areas such as Bénoué National Park (NP), the Tchabal Mbabo National Park (NP), the Mpem-Djim National Park (NP) and the Lake Ossa Wildlife Reserve, sites where IUCN SOS African Wildlife conservation supported conservation action.

Country brief: Kenya

Kenya, a cornerstone of Africa’s biodiversity, is world-renowned for its rich tapestry of ecosystems from vibrant coastal mangroves and savannahs to arid rangelands and montane forests. Spanning over 580,000 km², Kenya boasts an extensive network of protected areas, including 23 national parks, 28 national reserves, and a growing number of conservancies, now covering more than 6.5 million hectares. These landscapes underpin a robust tourism industry that contributes approximately 10% of the nation’s GDP and provides livelihoods for over one million Kenyans

Country brief: Uganda

Uganda is a biodiversity-rich country home to iconic species including over half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Spanning around 241,000 km², it has a robust network of protected areas including 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves, and five community wildlife areas covering over 10% of its land. Key sites like Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kibale National Parks also underpin a thriving nature-based tourism sector, which contributes 7.7% to the national GDP and provides over 667,000 jobs.

Country brief: Niger

Niger boasts a diverse and unique natural heritage, home to several iconic and threatened Saharan species such as the Addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus), West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta), Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), and Dama gazelle (Nanger dama). These species play crucial ecological roles and are vital symbols of the country’s biodiversity. However, Niger’s biodiversity is under increasing pressure, with population declines reaching critical levels due to a combination of ecological, socio-economic, and security-related challenges.

“Shark-Free Ceviche” Seal

The “Shark-Free Ceviche” seal is a benchmark that will certify fish ceviche products that have not been made with protein from elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) or other species threatened with extinction or protected by law in the countries where the seal is implemented. The aim is to inform consumers that the use of the fish species targeted by this initiative is rejected, to differentiate the companies that join the initiative, and thereby discourage their fishing, trade, and consumption. The challenge is to bring commercial allies on board, who often see the initiative as an increase in their operating costs, even though it is not as much as they think. The positive thing is that more companies want to join, and organizations similar to MarViva in other countries are beginning to show interest in partnering with the seal and implementing it.

Creating Lands of Opportunity: Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration in Burkina Faso

This project empowered communities in Burkina Faso’s Centre-East and Centre-South regions to transition toward sustainable agriculture and landscape restoration. With support from the IKEA Foundation, UNCCD Global Mechanism, and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the project reached 300,000 people (50% women, 50% youth). It increased agro-sylvo-pastoral production, restored over 54,000 ha, and strengthened local associations and governance. Through inclusive participation, communities adopted legal texts protecting 37,500 ha of ecological corridors. The intervention improved food security, incomes, biodiversity, and local decision-making capacity while aligning with Nature-based Solutions standards. Its successful co-production approach and restoration-business linkage offer high potential for replication across the Sahel.

Himalayan wolf conservation. Human-carnivore conflict mitigation to support traditional Tibetan mountain communities face global warming

Carnivores are among the most endangered species. The loss of apex predators  jeopardizes global biodiversity. The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) inhabits ecosystems highly vulnerable to climate change. The survival of the Himalayan wolf depends on human-carnivore coexistence and the systems ability to adapt to climate change impacts on the Himalayan ecosystem.

Our Solution aims to improve the livelihood of local Tibetan communities and promote human-carnivore coexistence. We achieve this through scientific research in collaboration with locals; forming Community Conservation Groups (CCG); building communal predator-proof livestock corrals (co-funded by the local communities), piloting fox lights, conducting conservation workshops for herders, women, and school children and installing mini-libraries in local schools. This Solution for fostering human-carnivore coexistence in the high Himalayas is part of an ongoing long-term science and conservation project, the Himalayan Wolves Project (www.himalayanwolvesproject.org).

“CAZ4Lemur” Capacity building and joint action with the local community in Madagascar

This solution is set in Madagascar’s Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor (CAZ), a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot that shelters numerous endangered and vulnerable lemur species. The project site, Fierenana—a rural commune in the western CAZ—is designated as an Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site, uniquely identified as the only place on Earth where at least one critically endangered species survives in its natural habitat.

Despite this ecological importance, conservation efforts face major challenges, including habitat degradation, weak law enforcement, and limited local capacity. The solution, implemented through the “CAZ4Lemurs” project with support from BIOPAMA, addresses these issues by empowering local community-based organizations (COBAs) to manage forest buffer zones and monitor lemur populations. The initiative has enhanced patroller skills and fostered law enforcement. Environmental education is being integrated into school curricula, while legal training strengthens enforcement, and promotes livelihoods.

Réglementation de la circulation des jet Ski pour la protection d’un groupe côtier de grands dauphins

Le conseil de gestion du parc naturel marin d’Iroise a souhaité interdire la pratique du Jet ski dans les secteurs sensibles de l’Iroise qui abritent un groupe côtier de grands dauphins (Tursiops truncatus). Il a proposé cette solution à l’Etat afin de protéger le domaine vital de cette espèce très sensible aux dérangements et aux nuisances sonores occasionnées par ce type d’engin.

L’activité est désormais réglementée  par un arrêté du préfet maritime de l’Atlantique et interdite dans le domaine vital des grands dauphins côtiers. Cette décision est depuis attaquée devant les tribunaux compétents, les arguments scentifiques collectés par les équipes du Parc naturel marin sont utilisés pour défendre cette mesure indispensable à la protection des cétacés.

Restoring the wild population of southern river terrapins in Cambodia

The southern river terrapin (Batagur affinis) is one of the world’s most threatened chelonians. Sre Ambel River supports one of two remaining populations in the world. The species is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction from logging and sand mining. The project addressed these challenges through protection, post-release monitoring, education, and awareness-raising. The programme helped influence government policy to stop sand mining activities in the Sre Ambel River, and led to the establishment of a Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone.

Santa Monica Biodiversity Rights

In 2013, Earth Law Center (ELC) helped Santa Monica become the first West Coast city to pass a Sustainability Rights Ordinance which recognizes that “natural communities and ecosystems possess fundamental and inalienable rights to exist and flourish.” The City’s Sustainability Plan sets out specific actions and goals consistent with the Ordinance. In the United States, over 40 cities and towns have passed laws recognizing nature’s rights and, oftentimes, the related human right to a healthy environment.

 

This effort will build from and contribute to the growing movement to establish legal rights for nature worldwide, as opposed to treating nature as mere “property” for human consumption. Ecuador and Bolivia already recognize rights of nature, along with many cities and towns including Mexico City and over three dozen in the US.