Kinshasa: Empowerment in forest concession management at the centre of a conference

Kinshasa, June 25^th, 2025 (CPA).- The empowerment of local communities in the management of forest concessions, as in the case of Ntemene Saka in the Kenge territory of Kwango in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the focus of a webinar conference on Wednesday in Kinshasa. ‘Several recent studies highlight a persistent gap between the theoretical principles of community forestry and their effective implementation in DRC,’ has said David Nkishi, president of the ‘Bioforest’ student club. According to him, the research was based on the application of knowledge acquired to ensure sustainable management of the local community forest concession (CFCL), socio-economic and cultural factors, and sustainable management of their CFCL. During this conference, the following research hypotheses were formulated: the local community of Mbinda Nzadi partially applies its knowledge of sustainable management of the CFCL; its involvement is influenced by resources, clear land rights and sustainable values, but is hampered by conflicts or cultural norms; and the level of community empowerment remains limited. ‘To date, DRC has allocated approximately 200 CFCLs covering nearly 4.5 million hectares, spread across 14 provinces, while 40 additional initiatives are in the process of being allocated. The development of community forestry is based in particular on Law No. 011/2002,’ he has continued. According to research by Mr Nkishi, president of the ‘Bioforest’ student club, the socio-demographic profile of respondents is 56.2% men and 43.8% women. The majority are farmers (86.3%), whose ages range mainly from 36 to 45 years old, with a secondary education level (57.5%). ‘The marginalisation of populations in certain villages and social conflicts are at the root of low participation, while a lack of funding, skills and knowledge of regulations mean that there is little empowerment, resulting in ineffective management,’ he has said. This study aimed to analyse the participation and level of empowerment of local communities in the sustainable management of the Ntemene Saka CFCL. The results reveal unequal participation, affected by multiple factors mentioned above. Despite the subjective feeling of autonomy expressed by a large majority of respondents, the study highlights the weak real capacity of members to influence strategic decisions concerning the management of the CFCL. ‘The gap between the ambitions set out in the legal framework governing community forestry in DRC and actual practices on the ground is clear. The Ntemene Saka CFCL illustrates the structural tensions between forest conservation and local development in a context of institutional precariousness and unequal governance,’ he has concluded. ACP/