Congo Basin
Investing in local governance: a proven pathway to resilient forest communities in the Congo Basin
Insights from RFUK’s recent field mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. RFUK’s recent field mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reaffirmed a critical lesson for conservation and development partners: strong local governance drives some of the most effective and sustainable outcomes for building resilient forest communities. Across Kinshasa and the Equateur province, … Read more
Protecting those who protect the forest: RFUK publishes new guidance to support community defenders in the Congo Basin
Deep in the forests of the Congo Basin, documenting illegal logging, or other illegal extractive activities, can come at a cost. Community observers, many of them volunteers, set out to monitor forest activity to protect their lands, defend their rights and ensure that forest laws are respected, knowing they may face intimidation, threats or even … Read more
Reflecting on the National Community Forestry Week in Mbandaka
Community Forestry is increasingly recognised as a key driver of sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It provides local communities and Indigenous Peoples with secure land tenure, enabling them to invest in their futures and build autonomous, forest-friendly rural economies through responsible investment. From 18-22 August 2025, community forest representatives, supporting NGOs, … Read more
THE GREAT GREEN RUSH: THE EXPONENTIAL RISE AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF FOREST CARBON OFFSET PROJECTS IN THE DRC
An investigation into the rapid expansion of forest carbon offset projects in the DRC — revealing their social, legal and environmental consequences.
Official launch of the Oshwe community forest project marks a new chapter for people and forests in Mai-Ndombe, DRC
On Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the Appui à la Sécurisation et au Développement Local (ASFD) – Support for Local Security and Development – project was officially launched in Oshwe, Mai-Ndombe province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This initiative opens a new front in our efforts to put the management of forests directly in the hands … Read more
Against the odds: two forest communities in conflict-affected North Kivu approve sustainable management plans
This story is the last of a five-part Forests for the Future impact series on how community forests in the DRC are enabling communities to drive their own development and protect climate critical forests In the heart of the Bapere sector of Lubero Territory, North Kivu, a region often overshadowed by insecurity and conflict, two … Read more
FORESTS TO FRONTLINES: OIL EXPANSION THREATS IN THE DRC
This new report by Earth Insight in collaboration with Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) and Congolese partners Our Land Without Oil (Notre Terre Sans Pétrole) and CORAP, reveals the alarming extent of planned oil development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Reviving the fishing industry: boosting fishing and profits through CFCL compliance in DRC’s Equateur province
This story is the fourth in a five-part Forests for the Future impact series on how community forests in the DRC are enabling communities to drive their own development and protect climate critical forests. Bosende is a riverside community in Lusankani territory, Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where 80% of … Read more
Securing the Future: Kiri’s and Batende’s journey to establishing their community forests in the buffer zone of the Lomami National Park
This is the third story in a five part Forests for the Future impact series on how community forests in the DRC are enabling communities to drive their own development and protect climate critical forests. Deep within the lush green expanse surrounding Lomami National Park in Maniema, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, something remarkable … Read more
New research finds that most industrial logging in the DRC is illegal
A new analysis reveals that most forest concessions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are not operating in compliance with the law, intensifying calls for a significant scale-back of industrial logging in the world’s second largest rainforest. The Forest Concession Compliance Portal, developed by researchers from APEM and RFUK in collaboration with Reseau EDH and the Ministry … Read more