At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has announced the creation of one of the world’s largest protected areas, covering more than 540,000 km² – an area the size of France. Stretching from Beni in the east of the country along the RN4 road and the Congo River basin to Kinshasa in the south-west, the Couloir Vert (Green Corridor) could have far-reaching implications for the country’s forests, peatlands and the estimated 31 million people that live in the zone.

Created through a Ministerial Decree adopted on 15 January 2025 and defined through a new concept of ‘community-managed protected area’, the Reserve aims to protect over 100,000 km² of primary forests, 60,000 km² of peatlands and specifically seeks to mitigate the deforestation risks posed by the reconstruction of the RN4 road between Beni and Kisangani that will slice through intact tropical forests and the UNESCO World Heritage site Okapi Reserve. The initiative also aims to catalyse a green economy and boost food security in DRC through agricultural transformation, microfinance and renewable energy projects, including through tax incentives and measures to promote community development.

Several progressive measures have been built into the decree such as a requirement that large development and conservation projects within the zone obtain the Free, Prior and Informed consent (FPIC) of impacted Indigenous Peoples and other local communities (Article 5) as well as orientations for participatory mapping and governance, for the establishment of grievance and redress mechanisms and for transparency in the use of funds (Article 9).

These are all notable innovations and potential safeguards for the rights of forest communities, but several challenges and loopholes remain, including:

The need for a participatory process: so far, there has been little consultation of local communities, civil society, the private sector or even local authorities on the creation of the Reserve, leading to insufficient scrutiny of the project and speculation over its true aims. Whilst Article 4 of the decree explicitly states the Reserve does not affect pre-existing rights and usages and that rules and decisions will be developed through consultation, priority must now be given to developing a comprehensive roadmap for establishing a participatory management structure, ensuring coherence with policies and ongoing governance reforms, notably on land-use planning and community forestry.

Governance and the institutional setting: the designation of ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) as the primary management body for the Reserve raises significant questions about its capacity and mandate. The region includes not just protected areas but also community forest concessions (CFCLs), agricultural, and industrial lands which would fall under the jurisdiction of various ministries and decentralised governments. While an inter-ministerial, multi-stakeholder body is foreseen and the key role of land-use planning and local sector authorities recognised, we must avoid creating an underdeveloped governance model and parallel administrative systems that could result in fragmented decision-making and competing interests.

Developing a fit-for-purpose model: the creation of the Reserve has necessitated an amendment to the 2014 Law No. 14/003 introducing the concept of a community-managed protected area. This is something long overdue in DRC as it recognises the vital role of local and Indigenous communities in conservation and signals a departure from the prevailing "fortress conservation" model in the region. Transitioning to a rights-centred model has long been advocated for by environmental NGOs and Indigenous organisations as DRC’s most just and effective pathway to meet its 30x30 commitments.

However, the legal amendment does not go far enough in that it does not specify the different models of rights-based conservation (e.g. community forests, OECMs), nor address intersectionality with other processes such as reform of the Land Law and the development of the National Forest Policy. Further amendments of the law are needed to reconcile it with an existing draft text that was already tabled at the Parliament and which had been developed in consultation with civil society to ensure it is as holistic, robust and effective as possible.

The Reserve itself currently lacks clear measures in terms of how it will function specifically as a Community Reserve. A "Community Reserve" implies active management and governance by local communities, something that will need to be addressed through different manuals foreseen in Article 9.

The Couloir Vert does not resemble a protected area in a strictly legal sense either. Although there are some notable safeguards (see above), there is still a lack of clarity and restrictions on extractive industries (logging, mining, etc.) or robust regulations to meet specified goals in the protection of forests and peatlands more generally. Similarly, the final text omits provisions concerning the possible displacement, forced eviction, relocation and compensation of communities.

Consider pilot projects: parallel to the development of the management regime, targeted green investments in community forests along the RN4 road and other strategic localities should be prioritised. These pilots can serve as testing grounds, helping to refine the concept and build momentum and multiplier effects.

The Couloir Vert could represent a significant opportunity for DRC to realise its role as a “solutions country” to the climate and biodiversity crises. However, achieving this vision requires meaningful engagement with all stakeholders, a coherent and robust governance structure, and a stronger emphasis on human rights. Further analysis of the opportunities, risks and what must happen next will be provided by Congolese civil society actors in the coming days. Their participation in and monitoring of the project will be essential to ensuring that the Couloir Vert delivers on its promise of environmental protection and community development.