Yangambi, located in northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was once a lush tropical forest landscape, home to bountiful wildlife and abundant resources that provided reliable livelihoods to the communities living in the area.
However, decades of overexploitation, economic fragility and population growth have taken a toll, resulting in a fragmented landscape that is struggling to cope with growing demand for food, energy and raw materials.
The story of Yangambi encapsulates the broader ordeal faced by many of Africa’s remaining rainforests – but as Congolese foresters Neville Mapenzi and Georges Mumbere see it, this is also an optimistic story.