PRESERVING ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS​​

“Known as ‘the lungs of Africa,’ the Congo Basin is the largest carbon sink in the world.” -The World Bank​​

The Congo Basin is one of the most biodiverse places on the earth. It is home to 70% of Africa's forests, 10,000 species of plants, and more than 400 species of mammals. The Congo Basin absorbs massive amounts of carbon, removing over 600 million tons of net carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually—that's six times the estimated net removals in Amazon Basin forests. ​​Spanning six countries, the Congo Basin Rainforest provides food security, an essential lifeline for Indigenous and local populations, and a critical habitat for endangered species. Preserving the Congo Basin forests is vital for Africa's future and the world's future. Global efforts to tackle the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, and cultural extinction depend on preserving this rich and lush ecosystem. 

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PROMOTING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE​

“In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to "those who care for us."-Robin Wall Kimmerer​​

Regenerative food production means growing food in ways that generate positive outcomes for Nature, such as healthy and stable soils, improved local biodiversity, and improved air and water quality. It is implemented through practices tailored to local contexts, such as using diverse crop varieties and cover crops, rotational grazing, and agroforestry, and results in agricultural land that more closely resembles natural ecosystems like forest and native grassland, providing habitat for a wide range of organisms.​​​​

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​CULTIVATING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES​

"What happens to one happens to us all." -Robin Wall Kimmerer​​

Local food systems supported by regenerative practices can enhance community food security, independence, and health.​  Regenerative agriculture encourages farmer innovation and collaboration, fostering a culture of shared learning and continuous improvement.​ Diverse and healthy ecosystems are better able to withstand extreme weather events and changing climate conditions.

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PROTECTING INDIGENOUS CULTURES​

“25% of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest plants."-The Forest Stewardship Council

 Indigenous communities and the women who are the traditional gatherers within them can play an important role in preserving the rainforest’s vast biodiversity for its medicinal value. Native knowledge of medicinal plants can support sustainable harvesting practices that do not deplete plant populations, provide economic benefits to Indigenous communities, and incentivize the preservation of their traditional lands and lifestyles. Agroforestry and regenerative agriculture incorporating Indigenous wisdom supports the cultural preservation of Indigenous people.

 

“Preserving the Congo Basin's forests is vital not just for the future of Africa,

but for that of the world." -Global Environmental Facility 

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