BY ROGER MUCHUBA Groupe Travail Climat REDD, DR CONGO ...

Drivers of deforestation and threats to the forestand forest-peoples in DRC Forest policy focused on industrial exploitation and ‘strict’conservation Industrial logging dominated by foreign companies Artisanal logging expanding rapidly History of creation of park sand reserves without consultation oftraditional customary owners of the land Threats to the forest and forest-peoples Profit from logging has not reached communities – poor benefitsharing Concessions to logging and national parks deprive communities ofland and resources - eviction of local communities from their lands Loss of biodiversity Shifting cultivation and gathering fuelwood/charcoal – reflectsproblem in DRC state provision of basic services