The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a landmark initiative aimed at creating the world’s largest tropical forest reserve in the Congo Basin. This ambitious project, which will stretch over 2,400 kilometers, will serve as a green corridor connecting the eastern Kivu region to the capital city of Kinshasa.
The Congo Basin, which spans six Central African nations—Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon—houses some of the world’s most critical ecosystems. Approximately 60% of the Basin’s forest is located within DRC, making the country central to any conservation efforts in the region.
President Felix Tshisekedi, speaking at the World Economic Forum, described the initiative as a transformative strategy for both environmental preservation and economic revitalization. The proposed green corridor will link vital conservation areas, including the Virunga National Park, Ituri Forest, and the Congo River, which flows from Kisangani to Kinshasa. Tshisekedi emphasized that the project is about much more than protecting the environment—it’s a long-term effort to foster peace, economic growth, and stability in the country’s eastern provinces, which have been mired in conflict for decades.
“The corridor is a comprehensive strategy to revitalize our economy, strengthen communities, and promote lasting peace in our eastern provinces, which have been severely impacted by conflict and instability,” Tshisekedi said. The region’s ongoing unrest has led to significant deforestation, with armed groups often involved in illegal logging activities.
The Kivu-Kinshasa green corridor, covering more than 500,000 square kilometers and home to 31 million people, is expected to preserve over 100,000 square kilometers of natural forest. It also aims to create nearly 500,000 jobs and generate up to 1 million tons of food annually for Kinshasa, Africa’s largest city.
Kinshasa is also planning to integrate renewable energy sources—solar, wind, and hydroelectric power—as part of its broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and modernize its economy.
The European Union (EU) has committed significant support to the project, with €1 billion already invested in various initiatives along the corridor. EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela announced an additional €42 million in grant funding to boost efforts around sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and biodiversity protection. This funding could be rapidly increased to further support these efforts.
Tshisekedi also expressed gratitude for the EU’s backing of the Virunga Alliance, an initiative that has been successfully providing clean energy and creating jobs for nearly 40 years. He highlighted the Alliance as a model for the Kivu-Kinshasa green corridor, citing its ability to balance environmental and economic priorities.
The green corridor is expected to have wide-reaching benefits for the environment, local economies, and the people of DRC, setting a new standard for large-scale conservation efforts worldwide.