Okapi III Conservation Fund

active

The Congo Basin and in particular the forest areas in the DR Congo are one of the most important ecosystems in the world with outstanding relevance for the climate and the preservation of biodiversity. However, due to long-standing conflicts, poverty and a lack of sustainable financing, the protected areas are under massive pressure. Population growth, poaching, illegal logging and illegal mining of mineral resources pose an increasing threat to flora and fauna. The follow-up project, Okapi II Nature Conservation Fund, therefore aims to improve the management and sustainable financing of selected protected areas in the DR Congo. The project continues the project measures of the first phase by making a further payment of EUR 4 million into the capital of the Okapi Fund. An additional EUR 1 million will be used to finance the further development of the foundation. The proceeds from the German capital contribution will be used to enable sustainable financing of the operating costs of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the east and the Garamba National Park in the north-east of the country. Measures within the framework of the project include (i) the payment into the endowment capital of the Okapi Fund, (ii) the provision of financial and material resources, consulting services and the financing of training courses for continued support in the further development phase of the Okapi Fund and (iii) the completion and operationalization of an environmental and social management system (ESMS). The target group of the project is the predominantly poor rural population in the peripheral areas of the protected areas. The entire world population benefits indirectly from the project's contributions to the preservation of biodiversity and climate protection.