Sustainable Ecotourism Development
Sustainable Ecotourism Development
The rich and diverse ecosystems of the Congo Basin, home to thousands of different species, offer unique experiences to adventurous visitors. Central Africa is one of the last places on earth where one can see great apes such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, giant creatures like hippopotamuses and elephants, and exceptional rare mammals like okapis and pangolins in their natural habitats. Unfortunately, conflict, inaccessibility, and lack of services are just a few of the many challenges for ecotourism in Central Africa. Yet, at the same time, ecotourism presents a huge opportunity in the region. It not only offers tourists the chance to engage with and learn about nature, but can also give protected areas and animals intrinsic economic value. This means that when it comes to making decisions about logging or agricultural concessions, protected areas that already generate revenue become less appealing sites for industrial activities. Not least, these areas can also benefit local populations, offering them new opportunities for income in often isolated places.
Our work
The U.S. Forest Service is working with various partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon to improve ecotourism infrastructure, resources, and capacity with the aim to increase ecotourism opportunities and income while reinforcing biodiversity conservation efforts throughout the region.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
MAIKO TAYNA KAHUZI-BIEGA LANDSCAPE CARPE LANDSCAPE
The Maiko Tayna Kahuzi-Biega landscape has an increasing ecotourism potential that can provide sustainable financing for protected area management and biodiversity conservation. Located in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the landscape encompasses Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and home to critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla populations. Tourism numbers in Kahuzi-Biega National Park have grown from 500 to over 1,000 annually in the last few years, and the potential for expanded growth has increased after an agreement reached with border immigration officials to enable tourists to easily obtain visas coming from Rwanda as part of gorilla viewing activities. Tourism currently accounts for over a quarter of Kahuzi-Biega National Park’s revenue and increased revenue will help the park develop a sustainable source of funding, as well as contribute to the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN)’s national operating budget.
To date, the U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has trained ICCN staff and community members to design, establish and maintain a hiking trail network to diversify ecotourism activity options for tourists. With the U.S. Forest Service’s assistance, the park has developed contracts with local communities to maintain established trails. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has been supporting communication efforts, providing training and material for guides, encouraging the park to cultivate relationships with regional tour operators, developing signage and brochures, and facilitating cross-border learning exchanges between Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and Kahuzi-Biega National Park to learn about each other’s respective ecotourism experiences. Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park, which receives 9,000 tourists per year, acts as a significant ecotourism revenue generator for Rwanda’s national park system, and provides an example of the ecotourism potential in the region.
VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
Virunga National Park is the oldest park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is home to the endangered Mountain Gorilla and the Nyiragongo volcano, featuring the world’s largest lava lake. The unique experience of visiting a volcano with live lava attracts the most tourists visiting the park. Currently park visitors comprise mostly foreign nationals with limited Congolese visitors. Therefore, to assist Virunga National Park increase the accessibility of the park to the local and national population, the U.S. Forest Service has started working with the park to design and construct a new trail up the volcano for local communities and school groups. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has been working on developing interpretation and education material about the park, volcano and local fauna and flora for both the old and new trails up the volcano.
The U.S. Forest Service has also facilitated a training on bird watching for tourist guides from Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks with the aim to develop local expertise and skills to offer additional diversified services and activities for tourists. A number of endemic birds can be found in both parks, making it a potential future world-class birding destination. This training provided the additional opportunity to facilitate a cross-park exchange where both parks learned more about each other’s experiences and connected with guiding counterparts.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
MAIKO TAYNA KAHUZI-BIEGA LANDSCAPE CARPE LANDSCAPE
The Maiko Tayna Kahuzi-Biega landscape has an increasing ecotourism potential that can provide sustainable financing for protected area management and biodiversity conservation. Located in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the landscape encompasses Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and home to critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla populations. Tourism numbers in Kahuzi-Biega National Park have grown from 500 to over 1,000 annually in the last few years, and the potential for expanded growth has increased after an agreement reached with border immigration officials to enable tourists to easily obtain visas coming from Rwanda as part of gorilla viewing activities. Tourism currently accounts for over a quarter of Kahuzi-Biega National Park’s revenue and increased revenue will help the park develop a sustainable source of funding, as well as contribute to the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN)’s national operating budget.
To date, the U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has trained ICCN staff and community members to design, establish and maintain a hiking trail network to diversify ecotourism activity options for tourists. With the U.S. Forest Service’s assistance, the park has developed contracts with local communities to maintain established trails. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has been supporting communication efforts, providing training and material for guides, encouraging the park to cultivate relationships with regional tour operators, developing signage and brochures, and facilitating cross-border learning exchanges between Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and Kahuzi-Biega National Park to learn about each other’s respective ecotourism experiences. Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park, which receives 9,000 tourists per year, acts as a significant ecotourism revenue generator for Rwanda’s national park system, and provides an example of the ecotourism potential in the region.
VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
Virunga National Park is the oldest park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is home to the endangered Mountain Gorilla and the Nyiragongo volcano, featuring the world’s largest lava lake. The unique experience of visiting a volcano with live lava attracts the most tourists visiting the park. Currently park visitors comprise mostly foreign nationals with limited Congolese visitors. Therefore, to assist Virunga National Park increase the accessibility of the park to the local and national population, the U.S. Forest Service has started working with the park to design and construct a new trail up the volcano for local communities and school groups. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has been working on developing interpretation and education material about the park, volcano and local fauna and flora for both the old and new trails up the volcano.
The U.S. Forest Service has also facilitated a training on bird watching for tourist guides from Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks with the aim to develop local expertise and skills to offer additional diversified services and activities for tourists. A number of endemic birds can be found in both parks, making it a potential future world-class birding destination. This training provided the additional opportunity to facilitate a cross-park exchange where both parks learned more about each other’s experiences and connected with guiding counterparts.
Gabon
The U.S. Forest Service has worked with Gabon’s National Protected Area Agency (ANPN) since 2010, and continues to provide technical support for improved management of Gabon’s national parks, which cover over eleven percent of the county. ANPN has high-level support from the Gabonese president to carry out its work effectively and transparently. This offers an invaluable opportunity to support ANPN and the national park facilities.
The U.S. Forest Service continues to build upon its past support to revamp ANPN’s protected area management planning process and implement their thirteen protected area management plans. Focusing on low-impact tourism access, trail system identification, and interpretive infrastructure, the U.S. Forest Service sent an initial team of park management technical experts in June 2015 to identify potential opportunities to expand ecotourism infrastructure. A following mission in 2018 has identified a number of ecotourism infrastructure technical assistance projects that will be implemented with ANPN. The aim is improved access and infrastructure that is environmentally sensitive that will help to facilitate an increase in tourism within the country to sustain protected area conservation.
Gabon
The U.S. Forest Service has worked with Gabon’s National Protected Area Agency (ANPN) since 2010, and continues to provide technical support for improved management of Gabon’s national parks, which cover over eleven percent of the county. ANPN has high-level support from the Gabonese president to carry out its work effectively and transparently. This offers an invaluable opportunity to support ANPN and the national park facilities.
The U.S. Forest Service continues to build upon its past support to revamp ANPN’s protected area management planning process and implement their thirteen protected area management plans. Focusing on low-impact tourism access, trail system identification, and interpretive infrastructure, the U.S. Forest Service sent an initial team of park management technical experts in June 2015 to identify potential opportunities to expand ecotourism infrastructure. A following mission in 2018 has identified a number of ecotourism infrastructure technical assistance projects that will be implemented with ANPN. The aim is improved access and infrastructure that is environmentally sensitive that will help to facilitate an increase in tourism within the country to sustain protected area conservation.
Republic of the Congo
In the Republic of the Congo, the U.S. Forest Service supports biodiversity conservation and ecotourism through two main approaches: strengthening institutional capacity of the National Protected Areas Agency (ACFAP); and providing technical assistance on ecotourism in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT
A relatively young agency established in 2008, ACFAP is continuing to build its internal operating capacity. At its request, the U.S. Forest Service has supported the development of an institutional procedures manual and continues to focus on strengthening administrative procedures and mechanisms to ensure effective protected area management. A formal collaboration agreement signed in June 2016 between the Ministry of Forest Economy and the U.S. Forest Service ensures that ACFAP’s development is supported at the highest levels.
NOUABALÉ-NDOKI NATIONAL PARK
Building upon activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon, the U.S. Forest Service has started to work in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. This work focuses on training for park staff in trail rehabilitation and maintenance as well as designing signs and related park infrastructure and communications material. The objective is to increase tourism-generated revenue to help support sustainable park management and benefit local communities.
Republic of the Congo
In the Republic of the Congo, the U.S. Forest Service supports biodiversity conservation and ecotourism through two main approaches: strengthening institutional capacity of the National Protected Areas Agency (ACFAP); and providing technical assistance on ecotourism in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT
A relatively young agency established in 2008, ACFAP is continuing to build its internal operating capacity. At its request, the U.S. Forest Service has supported the development of an institutional procedures manual and continues to focus on strengthening administrative procedures and mechanisms to ensure effective protected area management. A formal collaboration agreement signed in June 2016 between the Ministry of Forest Economy and the U.S. Forest Service ensures that ACFAP’s development is supported at the highest levels.
NOUABALÉ-NDOKI NATIONAL PARK
Building upon activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon, the U.S. Forest Service has started to work in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. This work focuses on training for park staff in trail rehabilitation and maintenance as well as designing signs and related park infrastructure and communications material. The objective is to increase tourism-generated revenue to help support sustainable park management and benefit local communities.
Our Partners
learn about our other work in Central Africa
