6,000 km²
of highland and lowland forest linking Kahuzi-Biega National Park with the Itombwe massif.
200+
eastern lowland gorillas estimated in and around this forest complex.
2
connected highland landscapes — park and community forests — under one vision.
Core
Afromontane refuge in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What lives here
- Eastern lowland (Grauer's) gorillas in remote forest valleys
- Chimpanzees and other primates across mixed montane forest
- Endemic birds of the Albertine Rift highlands
- Cloud forest catchments that feed rivers for downstream communities
What threatens it
- Armed conflict and insecurity limiting ranger access
- Bushmeat hunting and snares in remote forest blocks
- Artisanal mining opening roads into gorilla habitat
- Agricultural expansion on forest edges
“When the forest is quiet, the gorillas are safe. Our work is to keep that quiet possible.”
— Community monitors, eastern DRC
Kahuzi-Biega and Itombwe form one of Central Africa’s most important highland forest mosaics — home to Grauer’s gorillas found nowhere else on Earth.
Long-term protection here means supporting community governance, safe monitoring routes and alternatives to hunting and mining inside critical habitat.
Consortium partner
Standing with forest guardians in DRC
In Kahuzi-Biega–Itombwe, local teams track wildlife, mediate land pressure and keep hope alive for eastern gorillas. Your attention helps keep that work visible.
Show Kahuzi-Biega–Itombwe some love
Every heart tells partners in eastern DRC that the world still stands with these forests and the people who defend them.