Tshopo: the deforestation in the Yangambi reserve analysed in a discussion

Kisangani, November 26^th, 2025 (CPA). – The alarming situation observed in the research fields of the Yangambi reserve, characterised by illegal logging, has been the focus of an exchange on Wednesday in Kisangani, the chief town of Tshopo province in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, between the interim governor and a parliamentary delegation. ‘We are on a research mission in Tshopo province. Before continuing our work, we have deemed it necessary to meet with the provincial authorities to present the alarming situation in the Yangambi reserve, where we have been conducting research for several years with our partners, notably the University of Ghent in Belgium,’ has declared Landry Cizungu, national deputy and member of the National Assembly’s Environment Committee.  This deputy has explained that their teams are working with several Congolese doctoral students and have observed that over the past two weeks there has been intense pressure on the forest, marked by deforestation and logging, which has even damaged some scientific equipment. This elected representative of the people has specified that the aim of this meeting was to consider urgent measures to curb this phenomenon, which is dangerous for the environment and the country’s climate commitments. He has finally emphasised that protecting the forest also enables to safeguard investments in the work of doctoral students, the results of which benefit the province, the country and humanity. Mr Cizungu has expressed his satisfaction with the exchange with the provincial authority, which has reassured him that it will quickly take the necessary measures to put an end to the situation and punish those responsible.