Kinshasa, May 29th, 2021 (CPA).- The Deputy Prime Minister (VPM) in charge of Environment and Sustainable Development, Eve Bazaiba, granted an audience Thursday in her office, to the provincial minister in charge of the ‘Environment of Kongo Central, Dr Ginette Ntangu Matumona, came to tell him about the situation of the Luki biosphere reserve in Mayombe. The two personalities also discussed the participation of Kongo Central in the « One Billion Trees » project initiated by the Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi.
Provincial Minister Ntangu said the Luki Reserve, which measures 33,000 hectares, is the southernmost point of an ancient primary forest. It has been classified as a biosphere reserve since 1976 by Unesco. Carbonization and sawing activities lead to increasing deforestation in this reserve. With this in mind, the National Coalition against illegal logging (CNCEIB) denounced, during a press conference, sawyers and charcoal makers who operate in a network with the complicity of senior state officials both at the level provincial than national.
They are engaged in a wicked and systematic destruction of said reserve, she lamented. Dr Ntangu Matumona, who said he was satisfied with this meeting with the VPM in charge of the environment, said he was returning to his province with specific answers to the questions raised. ACP/Fng/nig