Cameroon – (Forests News) – To foment lasting change, tackling the challenges facing forests in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requires addressing root causes.
When researchers with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS) first began working together over a decade ago, a pressing problem was identified: the country lacked highly educated professionals and trained experts to properly manage its vast forests.
In 2005, there were only six people with postgraduate degrees working as forestry researchers in DRC, although it is home to some of the largest undisturbed stands of tropical rainforest on the planet.