The Ndoki-Likouala landscape area, extending over approximately 30,000 km2, comprises a vast stretch of lowland Guineo-Congolian forest, rich in African mahoganies and large mammals. Within the area, forest type varies from semi-deciduous forest in the northwest to swamp forest in the southeast. The region is home to important populations of some of the continent's most endangered species: forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and bongo. The region has an extremely low human population density, and has until recently been isolated from modern human influence. Biodiversity of the region is partially protected in two reserves: the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park and the Lac Tele-Likouala Aux Herbes Community Reserve. Yet these reserves alone do not provide sufficient habitat for wide-ranging or low-density species, nor is the capacity of the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) strong enough to effectively manage these areas. Consequently, the unique and extraordinary biological values of the region are threatened by the rapid development of logging throughout northern Congo, the export of massive volumes of bushmeat that follows in its wake, and the creation of logging communities who increase pressure on forest resources.

The principle goal of the Ndoki-Likouala project is to conserve biodiversity through application of a landscape approach. To accomplish this goal, the project will assess the ecological status and requirements of selected landscape species, develop management strategies across a mosaic of land-use zones that integrate their conservation, and help to establish effective systems for this management. The project will work closely with staff from MEF charged with both wildlife protection and forest management, managers of logging companies that work around the reserves of northern Congo, and communities located in the region. In addition to up-grading the status and effectiveness of protected areas, the project is helping to design and establish systems of wildlife conservation and management on forestry concession lands. This includes work to reduce the ecological impacts of logging operations, to prohibit the hunting of endangered species and the export of any bushmeat from the concession and to control logging-related demographic growth and its impacts. Furthermore, this entails establishing wildlife management systems for sustainable subsistence use by communities and developing alternative sources of protein for community consumption. At this time, the project is collaborating with private sector entities such as forestry companies like Congolaise Industrielle de Bois (CIB) and Rougier for wildlife management on non-protected lands.

To learn more, visit the WCS-Congo website.