Advancing Community-Led Forest Management in the Congo Basin

World Resources Institute (WRI) is leading a groundbreaking 11-month research initiative to strengthen community-led forest management across the Congo Basin. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap: while evidence from other regions shows that deforestation rates are two to three times lower in Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IP&LCs) lands with secure tenure, limited research exists on community-led forest management effectiveness in Congo Basin countries.

The initiative comes at a pivotal moment as both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Cameroon advance their forest governance frameworks. The DRC recently adopted new legislation protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights with promising land security clauses, while Cameroon adopted a new forest law in July 2024. WRI’s research is strategically designed to enable effective implementation of these landmark legal frameworks.

The project employs a three-tiered approach, building on existing evidence. First, a comprehensive research and diagnosis phase begins with multi-stakeholder framing workshops in Yaoundé and Kinshasa, followed by development of an inventory and lexicon of community-led forest management types, geospatial analysis comparing deforestation rates, and deep-dive case studies. Second, WRI will create a prototype database of community-led titles in the Congo Basin with extensive stakeholder consultations to secure sustainable funding. Finally, targeted policy briefs and engagement activities will provide technical support to inform the implementation of new forest laws in both countries.

This research addresses the urgent need to strategically direct significant funding currently poised to support community-led forest management in the region, maximising conservation impact while supporting Indigenous communities in asserting their rights and securing sustainable livelihoods.