DRC Pioneer: Local NGO Co‑Management of Itombwe Nature Reserve

For the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s modern history, a local non‑governmental organization will share management of a protected area with the state. Strong Roots Congo, founded by Dominique Bikaba, will co‑manage Itombwe Nature Reserve in South Kivu province alongside the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) under a public‑private partnership. The move follows the country’s recent National Forest Policy, which formally recognizes Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights to manage forest lands. Strong Roots has already secured nearly 600,000 hectares of community land to link Kahuzi‑Biega National Park with Itombwe, aiming for a 1‑million‑hectare corridor. The partnership reflects a shift away from the legacy of park creation through eviction and seeks to place local communities at the center of conservation efforts.