"Living with the Congo River": biodiversity, fluvial mobility and resilience to flooding in its catchment area

This project is led by “Lokole International”. The initiative “Living with the Congo River” aims to promote sustainable coexistence between the riverine populations and the Congo River in Equateur Province, based on an integrated approach of the watershed. It simultaneously addresses the challenges of maintaining biodiversity, sustainable river mobility, and resilience to flooding, in a context of strong community dependence on river resources.

The project encourages the adoption of modern and responsible fishing techniques, respecting biological cycles and minimum catch sizes, while actively fighting against destructive bad practices that lead to the disappearance of juveniles and the degradation of aquatic habitats. Awareness-raising, training and environmental education activities target fishermen, women, young people and those involved in river transport.

At the same time, the initiative is establishing community-based flood prevention mechanisms and early warning systems, contributing to public safety. By promoting sustainable river transport and local governance, the project strengthens the resilience of territories and proposes reproducible solutions for a sustainable future of the Congo River Basin.