PNKB: Eight community conservation committees set priorities and develop socio-economic projects for 2026
Eight Community Conservation Committees (CCC) from the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (PNKB) gathered at the Horizon Hotel in Bukavu to outline their strategic roadmap for 2026.
Representatives from Mudaka, Bugorhe, Miti, Cirunga, Bugobe, Katana, and Mbinga Sud identified key priorities, focusing on restoring degraded areas, raising awareness among local communities, and launching reforestation initiatives both inside and around the park.
Beyond ecological restoration, the committees also emphasized socio-economic development, proposing sustainable agriculture, livestock, and agroforestry projects aimed at improving livelihoods and reducing human pressure on the park’s resources.
“Communities should not just be beneficiaries of conservation; they must be active participants,” said Kadir Boru, Head of the Community Conservation Program at PNKB.
Echoing that view, Arthur Kalonji, PNKB Director and Site Manager, praised the CCCs for their crucial role as “bridges between the park and local populations,” stressing that their engagement is vital for achieving lasting coexistence between humans and nature.
The recommendations emerging from the meeting will serve as a foundation for drafting PNKB’s 2026 Community Action Plan, a key document to guide upcoming community-led conservation activities.
The event also brought together the park’s technical partners, Primate Expertise and Pole Pole Foundation, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting community-driven initiatives around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
