In Central Africa, the protection of the natural heritage constitutes an essential stake because of the capital importance of these forests which shelter an exceptional biodiversity characterized by a very high level of endemism, and directly ensure the survival of about 30 million people. In addition, these forests contribute to climate regulation via carbon sequestration. Their conservation is therefore fundamental. 

A Q&A session held on 16th June 2021 at the European Development Days (EDD) presented in an interactive and didactic manner the role of the World Heritage Convention for the protection of biodiversity in the Congo Basin and how the World Heritage status strengthens the protection of sites in Central Africa. The speakers showcased success stories in the region, such as the Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative (CAWHFI). Through this initiative, UNESCO and WCS have been promoting the sustainable management and conservation of wildlife in the Congo Basin.

Mr. Tales Carvalho Resende, Project Officer at UNESCO, said that there are around 100,000 elephants, 370,000 gorillas, and 140,000 chimpanzees in the Congo Basin. He stressed that forest elephants have been decimated by ivory poachers in recent years. A WCS-led census released in 2013 documented a 65 percent decline in forest elephant numbers between 2002 and 2013. This decline was largely due to poaching of elephants to feed the global trade in ivory from Africa to Asia and particularly China. The latest published estimate in this same study revealed there to be around 100,000 forest elephants across the central Africa forest belt. Probably more than 70% of those elephants are found in the nations of Gabon and northern forests of Republic of Congo.

Gorillas and chimpanzees – like us – are slowly reproducing species – populations are very susceptible to declines and have very long recovery rates. Protecting and stabilizing current populations both inside and outside of protected areas is critical to securing their future. 

Dr. Emma Stokes, Regional Director, Central Africa & Gulf of Guinea at WCS, closed the session presenting the landmark ruling of a poacher in the Sangha Trinational World Heritage site that was sentenced to 30 years of jail. This unprecedented conviction in the criminal court is a major milestone in the protection of wildlife in the Republic of Congo.

Previously, all environmental crimes were tried in the civil courts where the maximum penalty under the wildlife law was five years. This sentencing sends an extremely strong message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted at the highest levels. In addition, it will serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals that you will serve hard time if you break our wildlife laws and put park rangers and Congo’s national security in danger. More information is available here.

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