Biodiversity management and conservation in a forest concession adjacent to a totally protected area
(Nouabale-Ndoki National Park)

Republic of Congo

The project used an ecosystem approach for the management of the contiguous Kabo-Pokola-Loundougou forest concessions adjacent to the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park northern Congo. The approach was innovative and required the collaboration of the major stakeholders in the co-management of the forest ecosystems. It required the need for improved rational management of forest resources and the conservation of biodiversity to ensure long term ecosystem integrity and processes in the context of sustainable economic development. Therefore, the Ministry of Forest Economy (Government of Congo), the Congolaise Industrielle des Bois - CIB - (private company) and the Wildlife Conservation Society - WCS - (international environmental NGO) agreed to work together with local communities to implement an integrated project with the goal of sustainable wildlife and forest management as part of the ecosystem management strategy. Thus, the project developed practical tools to assist the Republic of Congo in meeting the ITTO sustainable forest management objective while promoting biodiversity conservation within the context of a multiple-use forest production adjacent to a protected area.