Objective
The project seeks to preserve the integrity of Indigenous and community lands inherited from ancestors in the Balinga-Lindja landscape along and within the Lomami River basin by promoting traditional practices and management approaches and ensuring that Indigenous peoples and local communities have access to livelihoods that support biodiversity conservation, the maintenance of climate harmony, physical and spiritual survival, and the well-being of current and future generations.
Expected results
- 5,000 people (government officials, local organizations, and communities) educated on securing land tenure rights;
- Approximately 40,000 additional hectares of tropical forest have been protected through participatory mapping;
- Approximately 10,000 hectares of degrading primary forests have been designated as protected areas (RNA, 10 years);
- 3 CFCL application packages prepared and submitted; 3 new CFCLs granted;
- 4 PSG or PSATs for the CFCLs (Yasomba, Yaté, Yakongolo, Bosoko) have been produced and validated;
- 300 indigenous and rural women trained in rural entrepreneurship and writing in their local language;
- 1 WhatsApp group of 100 women for marketing processed non-timber forest products;
- 8 hectares of rain-fed cocoa trees planted across four terroirs;
- 2 functional ones;
- 2 springs or water wells;
- Project to establish a protected area designated as a community reserve (agreement in principle between the ICCN and the Ministry of the Environment).
Strategy
The strategy involves gradually securing the Balinga-Lindja landscape area (2018.63 km²) over a period of at least ten years: raising community awareness, obtaining the CLIP, and expanding from Yasomba toward Yaté, Yakongolo, and Bosoko.
Phase 1 — Legal Framework: inter-community dialogue, participatory mapping, CFCL files, surveys, PSG/PSAT, and local development plans for the four regions.
Component 2 — Livelihoods: RNA on 10,000 ha, entrepreneurship initiatives for 300 women (non-timber forest products, snail farming, copal, palm nuts), WhatsApp group, cocoa trees, AVEC, boreholes, proposal for a community-based protected area.
The participation of women and young people is key (52% women, 48% under 25 in the landscape).
Partners / Funding: RRI, CLARIFI.