AMBASSADOR
THE LUKI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Part of the second largest tropical rainforest belt in the world. Consisting of 33,000 hectares of forest, the Luki Biosphere Reserve has unique biodiversity with 1,050 species of flora as well as 26 species of fauna, 17 of which are flagship species that appear in the Congo Basin Ecoregion and on the list of protected species of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
ABOUT THE RESERVE
The Biosphere is divided in 3 zones plus 4 enclaves for local people:
CENTRAL ZONE
devoted to long-term protection
BUFFER ZONE
contiguous to the central zone
TRANSITION ZONE
where only activities compatible with the conservation objectives can take place
ENCLAVES
Approximately 8,000 people live on the reserve
More than 77,000 people live in the surrounding area
HOW IT'S MANAGED
How the Luki Biosphere Reserve is managed
Within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, biosphere reserves are established to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between humans and the biosphere. The overall goal of MAB program is harmonization of the relations between people and nature to overcome contradictions between social-economic development and conservation of the natural complex.
Locally, the Reserve is managed by a steering committee composed of representatives of surrounding villages, government, research institute, NGO (Non Governmental Organization), and civil society.
THE PROBLEM
What is the problem?
The Luki Biosphere Buffer Zone and Transition Zone (total 25,000 ha) are being invaded by peasants from the surrounding villages who cut down the precious trees and sell the lumber or turn the trees into charcoal for their own use and to sell in the market.
They are now starting to attack the Central Zone which is the core and richest part of the biosphere. It encompasses an area of 8,558 hectares and is the home of unique biodiversity and many endangered species. We need to act now to eliminate this slash and burn agriculture, carbonization, poaching, and unsustainable logging before it's too late.
NEW MOMENTUM
New Momentum
The Provincial Government of Kongo Central took leadership and organized on March 21-22, 2023, a 2-days workshop to develop new strategies and an action plan to stop the intense devastating activities that are threatening the Luki Biosphere Reserve.
The workshop was presented on the BDA Campus in Luki and welcomed governmental, institutional, scientific, NGO and local stakeholders.
The objective of the workshop is to establish a new responsible and sustainable management of the Luki Biosphere Reserve.
