Forest management in Basoko: local communities equipped to tackle illegal exploitation

Community forests in the Congo Basin face threats from uncontrolled agricultural expansion, abusive timber harvesting and mining activities. On October 22 in Basoko-Centre, the NGO Tropenbos RDC held training and awareness sessions to explain the legal framework for local community forest concessions and how to prepare complaints and investigation reports about abuses. Adrien Tokanako, an expert at Tropenbos RDC, said the goal was to help communities monitor their forests and document illegal activities. Jean-Claude Moheli Kayakumba, executive secretary of the local civil society organization, said preserving the forests is vital for present and future generations.