Securing Forests for Local Communities

Deep in the eastern reaches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) rainforest, in a place unmarked by roads or development, the Usala forest is among the most intact and undisturbed sections of rainforest left on the African continent.

Many imperiled species in the DRC’s Province of North Kivu need this forest habitat protected to survive, including the critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla, chimpanzee, okapi, pangolin and more.

Local communities living between Maiko National Park and Tayna Nature Reserve have stewarded these forests with traditional land management systems for decades. However, these systems have been eroded by war, declining quality of life, and growing threats from mineral extraction and in-migration.

Seeking a permanent way to protect their traditional land tenure and the forests they rely on, local leaders asked GRACE and UGADEC (Union des Associations de Conservation des Gorilles pour le Développement Communautaire à l’Est de la R.D. Congo) for support. In the DRC, the preferred community-led pathway for legal protection is to apply for a Local Community Forest Concession (CFCL) from the Provincial government.

“This project is very important to me as part of UGADEC. We are committed to supporting communities and creating conservation zones, which reflects our vision of local people managing their own natural resources. For the communities, this project secures their forests and gives them the opportunity to manage them sustainably—for their well-being and for conservation.” -Omer Palaku, Executive Director, UGADEC

After an extensive 18-month Free, Prior, Informed Consent process, we are proud to report that four local communities— supported by GRACE’s leadership in the region and UGADECs community land tenure expertise—were officially designated as Community Forests.

Further Background and Reasons for Optimism

Years of civil unrest and lawlessness in the DRC have hindered conservation efforts and left critical forests vulnerable to mining, charcoal production, slash-and-burn agriculture, and both legal and illegal resource extraction.

In 2023, GRACE partnered with UGADEC to help communities achieve their conservation goals. With support from Rainforest Trust and other donors, they secured funding for community forest designation and launched a truly community-led and community-managed conservation corridor.

Collaboration between larger conservation organizations with technical expertise and smaller, trusted local organizations with deep community relationships is essential in this context. This partnership model supports Usala communities in safeguarding their own forests while connecting them to international resources and conservation best practices.

Communities Lead The Way

Before moving forward with formal community forest application requirements, UGADEC, GRACE, Rainforest Trust and local community leaders developed and implemented an inclusive, extensive, transparent and truly village level free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process.  This established community-wide understanding and support for the creation of the community forests—an essential foundation for long-term, meaningful conservation in the Usala corridor.

This extensive village to village engagement was no easy feat. One of the reasons Usala remains intact, and key habitat for threatened and endangered species, is that it’s extremely isolated. Rama, the key village of Usala is a seven-day walk from the GRACE headquarters in Kasugho (read more about this journey).  Teams spent many days in the field and prioritized hiring and training local staff to ensure this project was successful in such remote conditions.

Now, after 18 months of village-level engagement, four Community Forests have been allocated by Provincial decree to the local communities in perpetuity. During the formal allocation review, During their review, officials praised the depth of community participation, particularly noting that no complaints, formal or informal, were filed during the public comment period.

What CFCL Status Means for Communities

The CFCL designation of these forests secures communities’ traditionally recognized land tenure and allows them to:

• Protect their traditional forest rights and continue generations of stewardship.
• Manage forests for long-term conservation and sustainable livelihood development.
• Prohibit industrial activities while allowing artisanal, customary forest use.
• Reduce the risk of takeover from informal or industrial mineral extraction.
• Reduce pressures from in-migration, such as competition for land and resources.
• Sustainably manage natural resources through community-designated land-use zones.
• Clearly plan land use and revenue sharing with simple, monitored management plans.

“Allocating community forests to traditional landowners is a relatively new process in DRC, and it’s incredible to see centuries-old land tenure recognized through modern land-use planning. This process both affirms traditional ownership and provides a legal framework that unites land rights with conservation goals.” -Jennifer Holland, FPIC expert and project consultant

While dozens of community forests exist across North Kivu and other provinces, many lack funding and support to implement conservation and livelihood strategies. The Usala communities now have a strong foundation—and the partnerships—to move forward.

Partnering to Create a Future Where People, Forests and Wildlife Thrive

For Usala, the formal designation of community forests is only the beginning. Work is now underway to develop conservation management plans, strengthen management committees, and advance sustainable community development strategies.

At the same time, the region’s first biodiversity surveys are being conducted. Early data transmitted in near real-time via satellite from one of the most remote places in the DRC shows evidence of gorillas, chimpanzees, okapi, pangolin, forest elephant and more.

Timber and non-timber forest product inventories and community focus groups on resource use have been completed. In addition, the area’s first socio-economic surveys are nearing completion, highlighting key needs for communities in the area and opportunities for sustainable livelihood initiatives. This important information will enable local communities to define land-use zones, setting aside some areas for artisanal use to support local economies, and others strictly for conservation.

“Wildlife has no nationality and no boundaries. Gorillas and other animals already move through this corridor linking Tayna and Maiko, and now communities can manage it under their own plan: a true source of pride. In the past, people doubted that communities could preserve land, but Tayna has proven for decades that this model works. With CFCLs created through community participation, we see the power of conservation where people and wildlife thrive. These communities are the true stewards of this land, and we conserve with them.” -Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, DRC Director, GRACE Gorillas

The success of the Usala Conservation Corridor underscores a simple truth: conservation succeeds when communities lead. With trusted partnerships and sustained support, communities can safeguard their forests, improve their livelihoods, and protect wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Together, we are shaping a future where people, forests, and wildlife thrive together.

Creating the Usala Corridor:
A Timeline from July 2023 – Present

The Usala Corridor was created in partnership with GRACE, UGADEC, and Reserve des Gorilles d’Usala (RGU) with generous support from Rainforest Trust; additional co-funding provided by Allen Family Philanthropies, Arcus Foundation, Disney Conservation Fund, Los Angeles Zoo, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Fund, Nashville Zoo, Re:wild, Wildlife Protections Solutions, and individual donors.