The use of charcoal affects and threatens the biodiversity of the Congo basin forest.
The Secodev association, which is active in development cooperation, has been working since 2012 with ASODEC (Action sociale pour le développement communautaire), a Congolese non-governmental organisation working on the Batéké plateau in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With its strong local roots, ASODEC helps to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations and preserve the natural heritage.
Every day, 80-90% of Congolese households use charcoal for lack of electricity. The use of this vital household resource affects and threatens the biodiversity of the Congo basin forest.
The reforestation and agroforestry project on the Batéké plateau, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, aimed to combat deforestation and contribute to the development of economic sectors based on agroforestry activities. The project, designed for a new area of intervention with new local populations, was the logical continuation of the actions carried out since 2012 to strengthen access to food sovereignty for farming families and improve their living conditions. Following the success of the pilot reforestation activities combined with agroforestry practices, the project extended this methodology, promoting both environmental actions and ensuring economic activity for farming families.
The project was based on an approach that had already proven its worth through the creation of inclusive farmers' associations, which, once trained and supervised, manage the forest parks. The aim is not only to reverse the process of impoverishment of the populations of the Batéké plateau, but also to act on all the levers that enable farming families to become agents of change.
