Encroachment from human settlement, illegal hunting, logging and mining, and the illicit activities of armed groups are serious threats to the forests of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. General economic and civil instability of the Democratic Republic of Congo after years of interior conflict also burdens the government’s ability to address many of these threats.

The Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) is the DRC government agency tasked with protecting the country’s flora and fauna. Okapi Conservation Project operates all our programs under a Contract of Collaboration with ICCN, which is renewed every 5 years with the first contract initiated during OCP’s founding in June 1987. OCP’s staff support and assist the efforts of ICCN to raise awareness of the need to protect okapi habitat across its range locally and nationally.

ICCN ecoguards in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve work under the direction of the Director of the Reserve who is appointed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). WCS, along with ICCN, manage the Reserve under a Co-management structure.

The ecoguards have wide range of protection and law-enforcement responsibilities — collecting snares, evicting miners, pursuing and detaining poachers, monitoring agricultural expansion and biodiversity — all in an effort to protect, manage, and secure the Okapi Wildlife Reserve for future generations to benefit from its vibrant forest ecosystem.

OCP, under a Contract of Collaboration with WCS, supports the ecoguards by providing rations for forest patrols, logistical support and helping educate communities to be aware of and respectful of the regulations of the Reserve and to value the okapi as an important symbol of their national heritage.