The Itombwe nature reserve is home to unique endangered wildlife species, including the Schweinfurth’s chimpanzee and Grauer’s gorilla.
Founded in 2014, the Itombwe Génération pour l’Humanité (IGH) association aims to protect the biodiversity of the Itombwe massif, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Renowned as one of Africa's most important sites for the conservation of flora and fauna, the Itombwe nature reserve is home to unique endangered wildlife species, including the Schweinfurth's chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri). Despite the treasures it contains, the reserve is notably being damaged by the intensification of agriculture and fuelwood collection. Nearly 20,000 hectares of pristine forest have been lost over the last two decades, reducing the plant cover and threatening the survival of biodiversity.
The Itombwe forest conservation project focused on the reforestation of the Itombwe nature reserve by planting 540,000 tree seedlings on 500 hectares of degraded land in the reserve’s eastern buffer zone. Local communities, on whom the sustainable use of natural resources depends, were directly taking part in the project. In particular, they were involved in collecting high-quality seeds and seedlings of mixed native tree species from nearby forests, which were propagated in community nurseries before being planted in the target area. One hundred and sixty local people from eight villages were thus trained in tree nursery and planting techniques, as well as plantation management.
