Democratic Republic of the Congo announces Green Corridor project

President Félix Tshisekedi has announced the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor, a massive protected area project spanning approximately 544,000 square kilometers. Spanning nine provinces from North Kivu to Kinshasa, the initiative aims to preserve the Congo Basin forests, including primary forests and peatlands, while fostering a green economy.

The project includes ambitions for investments in agriculture, renewable energy, and logistics, such as transporting one million tons of food annually from the Kivu region to Kinshasa. Infrastructure developments, including the planned RN4 road between Beni and Kisangani, are intended to facilitate trade between the east and center of the country.

However, the initiative faces potential challenges regarding environmental protection and community rights. While authorities present the corridor as a tool for sustainable development, the Ministry of Environment has noted that community participation, governance, and management capacities remain significant hurdles. There are also concerns that new infrastructure could increase accessibility to previously remote forest zones.