Project

Investigating and Mapping the Role of Indigenous People in the Conservation of Congo

There are currently some efforts being made to protect indigenous people's customary land rights and promote community conservation in Congo rainforests.

Taking into consideration that climate change exacerbates the difficulties already faced by indigenous communities in the Congo Basin rainforest, including land dispossession, it is crucial to prevent land disputes that may arise.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, grantee Sammy Balance Mupfuni will focus on indigenous Mbuti and Batwa people living in the dense forests of Mambasa and surrounding villages like Banana and Mandima in Ituri Province in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Momboya in Equateur Province; Aimable Twahirwa will focus on Batwa in Rwanda; while Fredrick Mugira will focus on Batwa in Uganda.

Each journalist will work independently and have his final product published by his media house. The three published stories will later be brought together to form one project.