DRC: 14 local communities involved in the development of a green economy with WWF support

WWF continuing efforts to develop a green economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo bear fruits as 14 forest concessions titles have officially been handed over to local communities in the province of Equateur last Friday, February 16th , 2018 by the Governor of the Province, Mr. Bobo Boloko.
 
The Governor officially delivered the forest concessions titles to the 14 local communities from Elanga sector ( 5 titles), Lake Ntomba sector (6 titles) and Ekonda sector (3 titles) in the territory of Bikoro, province of Equateur.
 
This achievement is the result of the participatory & collaborative approach and support from WWF DRC through CAFEC (Conservation of forest ecosystems of Central Africa)-Lake Tumba program funded by USAID. This also offers a legal certainty to local communities ensuring their legal rights of access to land and natural resources management and exploitation. 
 
Land is an essential economic asset for populations in rural areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and provides local communities with a sense of belonging, but also forms a part of their identity.
 
This outcome is a milestone in forests local management involving local populations and also contributing to the REDD+ process in the province of Equateur.
 
It should be remembered that last year in the province of Mai-Ndombe, 13 forestry  concessions titles were delivered to local communities within the same USAID funded CAFEC program.