Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Integrated Context
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to some of the most globally significant natural assets, including vast tropical forests, exceptional biodiversity, major freshwater systems, and critical mineral reserves. The Congo Basin, in particular, represents one of the world’s largest carbon
sinks and plays a vital role in global climate regulation.

Despite this ecological importance, environmental governance in the DRC remains deeply constrained by persistent conflict, limited state presence in remote regions, and growing pressure from extractive industries. Illegal logging, unregulated mining, insecure land tenure, and weak enforcement mechanisms continue to drive deforestation, ecosystem degradation, and unequal distribution of resource benefits.

In the eastern regions, where conflict and displacement are ongoing, environmental management is closely intertwined with insecurity and informal resource extraction. In these contexts, natural resources are not only economic assets but also drivers of local instability and vulnerability.

The central challenge for the DRC is not simply to balance conservation and development, but to establish governance systems capable of managing forests, minerals, and land in a way that safeguards ecosystems while generating equitable economic opportunities. This requires integrated approaches that link conservation, resource governance, territorial planning, and community-based livelihoods.