The Potential for Restoring and Rewilding Degraded Ecosystems Across the Congo Basin to Play a Role in Land Management and Conservation

Abstract The Congo Basin, home to one of the world’s most biodiversity tropical forest ecosystems, is facing intensifying deforestation and ecological degradation driven by slash-and-burn agriculture, industrial logging, armed conflicts, and expanding urbanization. While much of its forests cover remains comparatively “intact” relative to other major tropical regions, mounting anthropogenic pressures accelerating habitat fragmentation and faunal decline. Safeguarding remaining forests landscapes, establishing ecological corridors, and advancing sustainable resource governance are urgent conservation priorities. However, ecological restoration and rewilding efforts—with its potential to reverse degradation—remain limited in scope and implementation. Current initiatives are frequently constrained by insecure land tenure, inadequate financial mechanisms, weak private sector engagement, and challenges in achieving long-term local participation. Emerging integrative approaches that combine community-based restoration, technological innovation, species reintroduction (e.g., pilot efforts involving gorillas and bonobos) demonstrate potential, yet remain at an early stage. Looking forward, key challenges include strengthening scientific research— particularly on seed viability and forest regeneration dynamics—enhancing monitoring frameworks, and mobilizing innovative, durable financing models. Drawing on international best practices and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration will be critical to embedding restoration and rewilding within broader sustainable management strategies for the Congo Basin. Addressing these gaps offers a unique opportunity to position the region not only as a biodiversity stronghold, but also as a global leader in ecological resilience and climate mitigation.