We're thrilled to announce the launch of a briefing summarising our approach to establishing collective forest enterprises in Équateur Province, DRC. Published with support from Partnerships for Forests, USAID and NICFI, ‘Guidelines for Establishing Collective Forest Enterprises: The Case of Équateur Province in DRC’ is a comprehensive guide outlining key strategies for promoting sustainable, community-led development and conservation in one of the world's most biodiverse regions, and which could provide a replicable model for the broader Congo Basin.

Sustainable development in DRC’s vast forests remains a huge challenge with increasing pressures from population growth and extractive industries as well as a lack of market access. Historically, local communities have had no legally recognised rights over their lands, limiting their control and benefits from these resources.

A significant breakthrough came in 2016 with the enactment of Ministerial Decree No. 25, allowing local communities to secure perpetual rights over their traditional lands through 'Community Forests'. This legal framework aims to enable sustainable management by allowing for different forest uses, fostering new opportunities for development and environmental protection. Since then, roughly 200 community forests covering four million hectares have been allocated.

This newly released publication shines a light on a model that RFUK and our partner, Groupe d’action pour sauver l’homme et son environnement (GASHE), have been piloting with community forests in Équateur province. This includes supporting the enabling conditions such as mapping of traditional territories, strengthening governance structures and developing land use plans. It also showcases the remarkable work being carried out to boost community incomes in these areas through improving agricultural techniques, fostering cooperation among producers, and improving market access, particularly in cacao production.

Read the full briefing to learn more about our innovative approach and the transformative impact of these projects, illustrating how sustainable development can be achieved through community-led efforts and effective partnerships.

By sharing insights from our successful initiatives with local communities, we aim to inspire and support similar efforts across the Congo Basin.