Private Sector Engagement

Anchoring our actions by involving private actors

Establishing reliable, long-term partnerships with private-sector actors is a proven strategy for extending the reach and effectiveness of our conservation efforts. By aligning with regional economic stakeholders around shared objectives, we help generate sustainable economic opportunities for remote communities while promoting the adoption of environmental best practices that minimise impacts on critical ecosystems.

TOURISM

In Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, we are advancing a long-term tourism strategy that combines private-sector investment with local enterprise development to generate sustainable revenue for conservation and inclusive economic benefits for neighbouring communities.

A core element of this strategy is our partnership with Kamba Africa Rainforest Experiences, a Congo-based company with international investment and extensive tourism expertise in Central Africa, to develop a high-value, low-impact world-class tourism experience.

In parallel, we are supporting the emergence of locally led tourism initiatives to diversify the market. By building local capacity and encouraging entrepreneurship, we help embed tourism revenue in the local economy and broaden access to economic opportunity.

READ MORE ABOUT: TOURISM IN NNNP

POULTRY

By diversifying livelihoods and expanding poultry production, we aim to reduce reliance on bushmeat for protein and promote sustainable alternatives in the periphery of key conservation areas.

Our approach supports the development of a viable, market-oriented poultry sector by strengthening local value chains. This includes training producers in improved husbandry practices, introducing more productive and disease-resistant chicken breeds, and supporting access to veterinary services. These interventions help reduce production costs – by over 30% in some cases – while increasing income for small-scale poultry farmers.

FORESTRY

Since 1999, the WCS has spearheaded an innovative partnership with the Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), which operates forestry concessions spread over 1.3 million ha, in a strategic area linking the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and the Lac Télé Community Reserve. With the support of the CIB, we have been able to extend our conservation efforts to areas crucial to alleviating anthropogenic pressure on wildlife, by supporting law enforcement, improved community-led management of hunting stocks and the application of best practices in extractive industries.

Our joint efforts have enabled CIB to obtain FSC certification for all the concessions concerned, while maintaining satisfactory protection of biodiversity, and in particular stable populations of large mammals, as attested by wildlife inventories of the landscape since 2006.