Pioneering Public-Private Collaboration Celebrates 25 Years of Biodiversity Conservation in the Republic of Congo

***WCS Media Release***

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, August 5, 2024 – An innovative public-private collaboration, the Peripheral Ecosystem Management Project (PROGEPP), is celebrating 25 years of protecting gorillas, elephants and other wildlife and for empowering local communities.

Established in 1999, PROGEPP is a unique collaboration between the Ministry of Forest Economy, Olam Agri‘s Wood Business – Congolaise Industrielle de Bois (CIB), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which aims to work with communities for sustainable use of natural resources and to extend conservation efforts into the buffer zone around Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, in the forestry concessions operated by CIB.

Spanning 1.3 million hectares, the project is a testament to sustainable ecosystem management, protected area buffer zone protection, local population partnership, and scientific research. It operates in a crucial geographical area, bordering 4 protected areas, and plays a crucial role in preserving the Trinational de la Sangha (TNS), a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

PROGEPP has been pivotal in conservation for globally iconic wildlife, protecting over 24,000 individual gorillas and 6,000 forest elephants within its intervention zone.

Beyond wildlife conservation, it has been a catalyst for empowering local communities, creating sustainable jobs—offering over 165 contracts, to significantly reduce hunting and poaching pressure. Over 25 years, PROGEPP has spearheaded livelihood diversification projects, mitigated wildlife pressure and fostered community empowerment. Successes of this 25 years partnership include:

• Releasing over 1,400 seized animals back into the wild, seizing 850 illegal weapons and destroying over 110,000 metal snares
• Reducing elephant poaching significantly, with 3 carcasses reported in 2024 down from 33 in 1999
• Creating over 400 micro-enterprises (shops, livestock and crops) to diversify and improve livelihoods and operating over 42 savings groups, benefiting 650 people
• Fostering scientific research leading to significant publications including the best practices guidelines for reducing the impact of commercial logging on great apes in Western Equatorial Africa (D.Morgane, C.Sanz, 2007).

Richard Malonga, Country Director, WCS Congo, highlights,

“The PROGEPP-Kabo represents a successful partnership model between the public sector, a private company, and conservation organizations. Together, we preserve the exceptional biodiversity of the Ndoki-Likouala landscape in the peripheral zone of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park for future generations. We strengthen conservation efforts while guiding local communities towards new livelihoods through participatory and inclusive management.”

Vincent Istace, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Olam Agri, remarks,

“PROGEPP’s conservation efforts are remarkable. They have protected thousands of animals and created a sustainable management model that inspires projects across Central Africa.”

As a pioneer, PROGEPP’s innovative approach has inspired similar regional initiatives.

Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest Economy of Congo, emphasizes,

“PROGEPP-Kabo is a remarkable example of conservation partnership. We reaffirm our commitment to preserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable initiatives for Congo. As PROGEPP celebrates its 25th anniversary, it looks to address new challenges, such as adapting to new road infrastructure to reduce poaching pressure. The project is dedicated to continuing collaboration with local communities and authorities to ensure a sustainable future for the region’s wildlife.”

About WCS

WCS harnesses the power of its New York zoos and aquarium and its Global Conservation Program in over 50 countries to fulfill its mission of saving wildlife and wild places. WCS manages the largest on-the-ground conservation program in the world, protecting over 50% of Earth’s known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, indigenous peoples, local communities, and the private sector. Its four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium) welcome over 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242. Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast HERE.

About WCS Congo
For more than 30 years, WCS has played a major role in the conservation of wildlife and wild places in the Republic of Congo, where it has contributed to the creation, expansion and management of three of the five national parks. WCS works closely with the government, national stakeholders and local communities to protect Congo’s rich ecosystems.

About Olam Agri

Olam Agri is a market leading, differentiated food, feed and fiber agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 33 years. With a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oilseeds, integrated feed & protein, rice, edible oils, specialty grains & seeds, cotton, wood products, rubber and commodity financial services, Olam Agri is at the heart of global food and agri-trade flows with 38.3 million MT in volume traded in 2022. Focused on transforming food, feed, and fiber for a more sustainable future, it aims at creating value for customers, enabling farming communities to prosper sustainably and strive for a food-secure future. Olam Agri is a fully owned subsidiary of Olam Group. For more information and to subscribe to our news alerts, please visit https://www.olamagri.com/

About Olam Group

Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed, and fibre to 20,200 customers worldwide. Our value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing, and distribution operations, as well as a global network of farmers. Through our purpose to ‘Re-imagine Global Agriculture and Food Systems’, Olam Group aims to address the many challenges involved in meeting the needs of a growing global population, while achieving positive impact for farming communities, our planet and all our stakeholders. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Olam Group currently ranks among the top 30 largest primary listed companies in terms of market capitalization on SGX-ST.

Since June 2020, Olam Group has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global sustainable investment index series developed by FTSE Russell, following a rigorous assessment of Olam’s supply chain activities, impact on the environment and governance transparency.

The FTSE4Good Index Series identifies companies that demonstrate strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and is used by a variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds. More information on Olam can be found at www.olamgroup.com.

Photo credits in order of how the images appear:

• PROGEPP25_02, credit © S.Ramsay /WCS

Aerial view of a road crossing one of the FSC-certified forest concessions where WCS is working with Congolaise Industrielle des Bois to limit the impact of logging on ecosystems.

• Canva photo of elephants in Trinational de la Sangha (TNS), a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

• PROGEPP25_01, credit © T.Nicolon/WCS

A moustached monkey (Cercopithecus cephus) seen in the peripheral zone of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, where conservation actions have contributed to healthy population of wildlife. 

• PROGEPP_03, credit © S.Ramsay /WCS

Roadblock to combat trafficking in prohibited wildlife products.