Project

Integrated and Transboundary Conservation of Biodiversity in the Basins of the Republic of Congo

Lead country

Congo

Participating countries

Congo

Project status

Closure

Implementing period

From October 6, 2017 to September 30, 2020

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 15.7 End wildlife poaching, illegal species trafficking
  2. 15.6 Promote fair, equitable benefits sharing
  3. 15.5 Reduce habitat degradation, halt biodiversity loss, extinction

Project ID: 5612

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Technical team

  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Ecosystem management and restoration
  • Strengthening conservation areas

Sub-area(s)

  • Access and benefit sharing
  • Wildlife conservation

Landscape(s)

  • Conserved areas
  • Forests

Sub-landscape(s)

  • Terrestrial protected areas
  • Key biodiversity areas (KBAs)
  • Tropical forests

Transformed sector(s)

  • Forestry and other land use
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism

UNDP role(s)

  • Convening / Partnerships / Knowledge Sharing
  • Capacity development / Technical assistance

Strategy

  • Management operation
  • Enabling
  • Governance

Sub-strategy

  • Sustainable land management
  • Wildlife and habitat conservation
  • Improved & diversified sustainable livelihoods (TP 5)
  • Institutional capacity building
  • Mainstream
  • Participatory governance models
  • Transboundary governance
  • Laws enforcement/ Regulation

Social inclusion

  • Local community/CSOs
  • Private sector

Gender equality

  • Awareness raising (on gender)
  • Women decision making

Gender result effectiveness scale

  • Gender targeted

Pathway(s)

  • People pathway
  • Systems pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Hazard control/mitigation
  • Improve resilience

SDG target(s)

  • 15.7 End wildlife poaching, illegal species trafficking
  • 15.6 Promote fair, equitable benefits sharing
  • 15.5 Reduce habitat degradation, halt biodiversity loss, extinction

Conventions and protocols

N/A

Private sector(s)

  • Individuals/Entrepreneurs
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises

Hot topic

  • Poverty reduction
  • Food and agricultural commodities strategy

About this project

Description

Congo is home to one of the richest, most biologically important and intact-forest ecosystems on the planet. These areas are home to a diverse range of rare and endangered mammals, insects and plants  forest elephants, chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, leopards, bongo antelope and others. The Congolese area within the Minkébé-Odzala-Dja Inter-zone in Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon, also known as the TRIDOM zone, is a key IWT hub. This area and its biodiversity are threatened by IWT, especially by bush meat and ivory poaching. Its forests are target for poachers and its roads and towns constitute a transit route for trafficked wildlife from Central African Republic (CAR), Congo Republic and Gabon. Local people accrue little of the benefits, watch their natural resources being depleted, and they face compromised security in their daily lives. They feel disempowered in the face of criminal elites leading IWT. The long-term solution proposed by the project aims to protect unique biodiversity of Congo and the TRIDOM area in particular via i) a strategy for strengthening the PA network through expansion of protected areas, effective functional zoning to incorporate sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, and integrative management planning; ii) strengthening capacity for effective PA and Illegal Wildlife Trade governance in Congo; and iii) reducing poaching and illegal trade on threatened species via CBNRM and sustainable livelihood.

Objectives

To strengthen the conservation of globally threatened species in the basins of the Republic of Congo by improving biodiversity enforcement.

USD $3,275,250

Grant amount

USD $20,682,400

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Source(s) of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($3,275,250)

Implementing partner(s)

  • Government of Congo

Joint agencies

  • World Bank

Project metrics

Outcome 1:

Expanded PA network and improved management effectiveness of PAs in the Congo Basin, specifically Odzala-Kokoua, Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary, and Messok Dja, an area of 2,667,160 ha

Indicators:

Mandatory Indicator 1: Number of new partnership mechanisms for financing sustainable management solutions natural resources, ecosystem services at local, national and sub regional (IRRF 1.3.1.)
Mandatory Indicator 2: a) Total number (%) of people (m/f) benefiting from CBWM, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and small business development in the project areas (IRRF 1.3.2)
b) Number of beneficiaries with access to renewable energy and energy efficiency through electric power from solar energy (IRRF 1.5.2) Mandatory Indicator 3: Extent to which institutional frameworks are in place for conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit sharing of natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems (IRRF 2.5.1):
a) National Wildlife Crime Enforcement Unit;
b) National IWT Enforcement StrategyPopulations of forest elephant (a) and gorilla (b) in the project area
METT score for targeted PAs
Total area (ha):

(a) covered by PAs/% of Aichi target for Congo, including officially Messok Dja NP, and functioning zones for three target PAs
(b) under implemented Integrated Management PlansCapacity of National Enforcement Agencies to control IWT (UNDP Capacity scorecard, %)
Poaching rate for forest elephants in the project area (individuals killed annually)
Results of law enforcement on IWT in the project area in 2016:
1. annual number of inspections/patrolling;
2. annual number seizures;
3. annual number of arrests;
4. annual number of successful prosecutions on poaching and IWTNumber of direct biodiversity-friendly jobs created in the result of the project activities: Total (f/m)
Number of hotspots under effective community-based poaching prevention and control
Total area under CBNRM (ha) and sustainable land management
Total volume of CO2 mitigated in the project area as per the GEF GWP TT (tCO2eq)
% of women among the project participants directly benefiting from the project activities
Number of the lessons on IWT control and CBNRM learned by the project that used in other national and international projects

Outcome 2:

Biodiversity and Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) priorities are integrated into key national policies and plans and harmonized with regional initiatives

Outcome 3:

Strengthened sustainable livelihood capacity in the targeted PA complexes
Outcome 4:

Lessons learned by the project through participatory M&E, including gender mainstreaming practices, are used to fight poaching and IWT and promote community-based conservation nationally and internationally

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Project reports and documentation

 

Project Document (ProDoc)