GBFF In Focus: Community-based conservation for biodiversity and livelihoods

Since 2024, the GEF’s Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has moved from launch to full-speed operation, with seven projects already reviewed, approved, and funded, and dozens more in the pipeline. GBFF In Focus is a series showcasing how the new biodiversity fund is changing the game for how countries can invest in nature, starting with seven projects in Brazil, DRC, Gabon, Mexico, Peru, and a trinational project in the Congo Basin. These projects moved from concept approval to implementation in just six months, and stand out for their inclusive, integrated approach to building a more nature-positive future.

With over 155 million hectares of forest, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second largest tropical forest country in the world and boasts the highest rate of biodiversity of mammals and birds in Africa. A network of national protected areas spans 13% of the country to protect its rich biodiversity. However, this network was designed without considering the stewardship and the traditional knowledge of pygmy native people and local communities, which has limited their ability to manage ancestral territories and pursue sustainable livelihoods using their natural resources.

The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) project Community-based conservation for biodiversity and livelihoods in the context of climate change in DRC aims to change that by putting Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in the center of biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use, and ecosystem restoration in Tanganyika Province, one of the country’s 21 provinces.

Implemented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and executed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and the National Alliance for the Support and Promotion of Indigenous and Community Heritage Areas, the project aims to address weaknesses in governance and gaps in capacities to boost biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and nature-positive economic opportunities. Rooted in rights-based, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive approaches, the project employs a multi-pronged strategy that includes policy changes, ecosystem restoration, nature-positive community enterprises, and scaling knowledge and practices. At the policy level, the project focuses on fostering a regulatory environment that enables IPLC stewardship, governance, and conservation of community and Indigenous lands. It aims to develop policies that recognize IPLC rights and land-use plans aligned with biodiversity and climate goals, all through inclusive processes. When it comes to ecosystem restoration, the project aims to restore 14,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems and support the legal recognition and sustainable management of at least 150,000 hectares of IPLC lands. Local communities will co-design and implement restoration activities that promote biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods.

The project will also promote sustained, nature-positive community enterprises by improving access to finance and establishing equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. To empower Indigenous women and youth, it will develop biodiversity-friendly value chains, such as honey, caterpillars, mushrooms, and agroforestry, benefiting over 60 community enterprises and 6,000 households.

Experiential learning, structured dissemination, and academic integration will help enable the adoption of these good practices beyond Tanganyika Province. A national framework will help scale them for evidence-based decision-making. And partnerships with universities and training centers will ensure sustainability by embedding lessons into curricula, student research, and training modules.

The involvement of the Twa Indigenous Peoples, and beyond

The project places IPLCs—with a particular focus on the Twa Indigenous Peoples—at the heart of its design and implementation. IPLCs play a central role across all components, ensuring that conservation efforts are rooted in local ownership, traditional knowledge, and inclusive governance. They are actively represented in governance and decision-making structures at local, provincial, and national levels, helping to shape strategies and guide project implementation.

Communities lead the restoration and conservation of degraded ecosystems, applying a blend of traditional ecological knowledge and scientific methods to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services. Through support for biodiversity-friendly value chains, IPLCs—particularly women and youth—participate in sustainable livelihood activities with equitable access to benefits. Capacity-building initiatives empower these groups to engage meaningfully in conservation planning, governance, and economic development. Participatory monitoring systems further ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous learning, reinforcing community ownership and long-term sustainability.

A strong contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

This integrated project aims to deliver ecological and social results to live in harmony with nature and meet the ambitions of the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The project will progress on:

• Target 1 on managing areas by embedding biodiversity priorities into local and territorial development planning through inclusive, participatory land-use planning processes.
• Target 2 on ecosystem restoration by reviving degraded ecosystems and enhancing critical ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, soil fertility, and water retention.
• Target 3 on protected areas by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of Indigenous and community lands, directly supporting the DRC’s pathway toward protecting 30% of its terrestrial area by 2030.
• Target 9 on managing wild species by promoting biodiversity-based, IPLC-led enterprises for sustainable livelihood opportunities aligned with conservation outcomes.
• Target 22 on ensuring participation in decision-making by helping IPLCs to secure land tenure and ensure leadership in biodiversity governance.
• Target 23 on gender equality by embedding gender-transformative approaches across all activities—from conservation and restoration to value chain development and decision-making processes.