The Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and Okapi Conservation Project celebrated World Tree Day on October 24 in six towns and villages around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

The 2024 World Okapi Day celebrations marked a milestone in wildlife conservation education, bringing excitement and knowledge to thousands of people across eight towns and villages.

In June, a week-long exchange workshop was held in Epulu, bringing together staff from the Okapi Conservation Project and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Centre (GRACE).

We made notable strides in our agroforestry and community support initiatives throughout the Reserve.

Illegal poaching and unauthorized mining within the Okapi Wildlife Reserve continued to pose severe threats to wildlife and biodiversity

It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Chief Zaire Nzikale Badiki, a revered figure and esteemed partner in our mission to conserve the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Chief Zaire, born in Bapukeli in 1945 to Bakidi and Tamasa, was a distinguished member of the Bandiekwa Mbuti clan.

In the face of the formidable challenges confronting women and girls in conflict-stricken regions like North Kivu and Ituri, International Women's Day was observed with heartfelt acknowledgement and solidarity with those fighting each day for their rights. Though devoid of the customary festivities, the event served as a platform for reflection and constructive dialogue. The international theme emphasized the need to increase resources for women and girls to promote peace and parity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Early this quarter, our education team embarked on their annual journey across the Reserve to distribute newly crafted calendars to local and indigenous communities. This year, calendars were created in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society spotlighting the vital role of the Mbuti and Efe Indigenous Peoples as stewards of the forest and champions of conservation. Having cohabitated with the landscape for over 40,000 years, their tribes possess invaluable knowledge that deeply enriches our collective understanding of the forest and the okapi that live there.

In the words our our Agroforestry Coordinator, Muvi Yalala, “Planter des arbres, c’est bien. Planter des arbres dans un système agroforestier, c’est encore mieux!” (Planting trees is good. Planting trees in an agroforestry system is even better!).

Why is this? We believe in the transformative power of integrating trees within agricultural landscapes.

In March, a young male chimpanzee was rescued by ICCN ecoguards and brought to the OCP headquarters for care until transfer to a long-term care center could be arranged. Under the watchful eye of Rosmarie Ruf and OCP staff, the chimpanzee received immediate medical care and close attention for his compromised health to stabilize his condition as best as we could. He has now been safely relocated to Lubumbashi at J.A.C.K. Primate Sanctuary for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

Given the challenges in implementing the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) activities in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR), it’s sometimes hard to take on board that the actions of the OCP team in northeastern DRC are part of a larger global conservation movement. As the recent publication by Langhammer (2024) demonstrated, “conservation has improved the state of biodiversity—or at least slowed its decline—compared with no conservation action.” As OCP enters its 38th year, there is a long-term impact that should be factored into this equation about the benefits generated by the consistent presence of the project and personnel in the field working everyday with communities living with okapi.

Women participating in Women’s Groups across the Reserve continue to advance their cutting and sewing styles and techniques to enhance the quality of their products. Recognizing this evolution, we invested in our first chain stitch (embroidery) sewing machine, capable of creating designs on the various items crafted.

In agroforestry this quarter, activities focused on bean sowing and the onset of rice and peanut harvesting. Over 2,191kg of bean seeds were distributed to farmers. Our agronomists are standing by to offer support as recent heavy rains pose challenges to their growth. In our commitment to education and community development, we supplied agricultural tools to six secondary schools in Mambasa and two in Mungbere, supporting both academic endeavors and sustainable farming practices.

Indigenous peoples of the Reserve are key allies to its conservation. Considered the ‘first protectors of the forest’, they have resided in the Ituri Forest for hundreds of generations maintaining their distinct culture. From their active involvement in the establishment of the Reserve to their support in guiding okapi camera trap expeditions, their collaboration has been vital to enhancing the understanding of the Reserve and ensuring its conservation for years to come.

In January, I returned to Epulu, the headquarters of the Reserve de Faune à Okapi (RFO) for the first time in 21 years to meet with the Okapi Conservation Project’s education, agroforestry, health, and infrastructure teams to listen to their activities, experiences, impacts, and challenges.

ICCN, L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (The Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature), is the government authority tasked with safeguarding protected areas across the country, including the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Healthcare is the number one requested need by communities in the region.

At our Okapi Clinic in Epulu, we provide healthcare and treatments to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve staff and their families - including ICCN, WCS, OCP - and the indigenous Mbuti.

The main threat to the rainforest habitat of okapi is slash-and-burn agriculture. Though often conducted on a small scale, the combined actions of people participating in the practice can impact large swaths of forest.

With the arrival of October 18th, the Reserve brims with collective cheer and inspiration.

Our teams have returned from World Okapi Day celebrations in eight villages and towns around the Reserve. This year, we felt it important to rotate the celebrations to new places we haven’t been able to reach in previous years’ celebrations.