Sustainable Development

The war has had a devastating impact in the region and the population has suffered a great deal. Infrastructure breakdown has led to a lack of basic goods and services and has destroyed the means for commerce. This has been a major factor leading to unsustainable agricultural practices and rampant commercial and sustenance bushmeat hunting. Smoked bushmeat is one of the only commodities that can withstand long journeys to markets without spoiling.

BCI is working to coordinate with international partners to provide new seed stocks and training for community organizations and infrastructure support to coordinate activities with partner SOCOLO Plantations, once the leading employer in the region.

The Ketsy had been the main barge plying the river for many years when the local plantations were operational. Providing the local population market access will reduce bushmeat hunting and promote sustainable agricultural practices. In addition, the local population will be aware that the Ketsy’s mission is driven by conservation interests, and this will further motivate the population to support conservation efforts.

However, the Ketsy’s mission will not simply be commercial. It will be coordinated with conservation consensus building and sensibilization campaigns of the Bonobo Conservation Initiative and other local and international NGOs. Priority will be given to communities participating in conservation and sustainable development programs and bushmeat will be banned from transport.

A key factor that will contribute to and help assure the business viability and financial success will be coordination with the South-East Consortium for International Development (SECID) USDA Food for Progress program, which is being coordinated in partnership with BCI and Nkema/SOCOLO. This will provide improved seed stocks and cuttings, community training, market development training and infrastructure support. We will also be working with qualified agronomists who will be supervising in-situ efforts and implementing training programs. Building on these programs and coordinating with plantation personnel and local community associations with a track record for success prior to the war will assure success.

BCI and partners have a network in place throughout the region that will provide logistical support to the venture. This includes regional headquarters and logistical storage center in Mbandaka, the provincial capital, HF radios and communications protocols established throughout the region, and additional support from SECID for agricultural development programs and provision of ground transport through the USDA program. In addition, NKEMA has existing port facilities in Kinshasa, Mbandaka and Befori (the main plantation in the landscape).