THE PARK

Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) harbors remarkable biodiversity, including rare and endangered species such as the pangolins and the grey parrot. It is particularly important for its many endemic species, including the critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla, making it a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation. 

Created in 1970 and recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1980, Kahuzi-Biega National Park owes its name to the two spectacular dormant volcanoes that dominate it.

It is renowned as the only place in the world where Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) can easily be observed in the wild. According to a 2021 estimate, the Park is home to 23% of the planet’s remaining 6,800 Grauer's gorillas. 

Due to its diverse landscapes, ranging from high-altitude rainforests to steep peat bogs, the Park is also home to many other endemic species, hundreds of bird and plant species, and is one of the most important protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the Albertine Rift.

Due to its diverse landscapes, ranging from high-altitude rainforests to steep peat bogs, the Park is also home to many other endemic species, hundreds of bird and plant species, and is one of the most important protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the Albertine Rift.

Located to the west of Lake Kivu, the Park provides significant ecosystem services to the hundreds of thousands of people living between its mountains and the lake. It also constitutes all that remains of the ancestral habitat of the Wambuti Indigenous Peoples, who attach great cultural importance to the highland forest.

Managed by a public-private partnership between the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Park works closely with the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities living around its boundaries, making them actors and beneficiaries of conservation, in particular by promoting better access to education, healthcare, and stable employment.

The Park team works towards protecting its ecosystems from threats such as deforestation, poaching, and illegal mining, while monitoring ten gorilla groups on a daily basis, including two that are fully habituated to human presence. This allows the Park to offer tourism opportunities and collect data to better understand and protect their environment.

Covering nearly 6,000 km², the Park consists of a small high-altitude area in the east, dominated by Mount Kahuzi (3,308 meters) and Mount Biega (2,790 meters). To the west, the vast lowland forests stretch across the plains that connect Kisangani to Bukavu, crossed by the Luka and Lugulu rivers. A 7.4-kilometer-wide ecological corridor connects the two parts.

The Park’s headquarters and tourist area are located 30 km from Bukavu, which is the fourth largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the capital of South Kivu province. Overall, Park spans three provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema.

1937
The "Integral Zoological Forest Reserve in the Mount Kahuzi Region" was created by Ordinance Law No. 81/AGR of Count Pierre Ryckman, Governor General of the Belgian Congo.
1952
Three blocks intended for livestock farming were established in the south of the Reserve by the colonial administrator through the Kivu National Committee.
1970
The creation of the Park was proposed by Mr. Adrien Deschryver, Head Conservator and considered the founder of KBNP. The Kahuzi-Biega National Park was created by Ordinance No. 70-316 of November 30, 1970. This ordinance changed the status of the Reserve, which became a National Park. Some of the boundaries of the former Reserve were revised, reducing the Park to an area of 600 km². The classification of these lands as a Park led to the expulsion of the Wambuti Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands by the government of then-President Mobutu Sese Seko.
1975
The current boundaries of the Park were modified by Ordinance No. 75-238 of July 22, 1975. They were then extended to 6,000 km². The aim was to connect the Highland gorilla population of the existing Park with that of the Low Altitude sector. Thanks to this expansion, the Park now consists of two regions with different characteristics. This expansion once again resulted in the displacement of a large number of Wambuti without their free, informed, and prior consent.
1978
In 1978, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), which later became the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), began working to maintain biodiversity and ensure sustainable forest management in the DRC, including in KBNP.
1980
UNESCO granted the Park World Heritage Site status, thereby promoting its natural resources and recognizing its Outstanding Universal Value in terms of science and conservation.
1985
In 1985, DRC decided to launch a pilot project in KBNP to integrate conservation into development. Supported by the German government through technical cooperation from the GTZ, the project aimed to improve the Park's management by establishing a management plan and integrating the interests of local communities into its management to ensure the Park's sustainability. This marked the beginning of community-based conservation management.
1997
Following recurrent wars in eastern DRC, UNESCO placed KBNP on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, a status it still holds today.
2008
Since 2008, the German development bank KfW has provided significant financial support to KBNP, complementing the technical assistance provided by GIZ. KfW has co-financed the Park since 2008 and has become one of its largest financial partners, providing more than half of its total budget to the ICCN.
2018
Further incursions by Wambuti into the Park led to renewed tensions with Park eco-guards and serious human rights violations. Legal proceedings were initiated against those responsible for these acts.
2019
A roadmap was signed in Bukavu to ensure the sustainable protection of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and promote peaceful coexistence between the Park, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and other local communities. The document was signed by the Congolese government, the ICCN, IP leaders, organizations and other technical and financial partners working with IPs. The main objective of this roadmap is to establish concerted strategies to protect the biodiversity of KBNP while respecting the rights of the Wambuti and other local communities. It addresses several important issues, such as access to land, education, and the promotion of Wambuti culture.
2022
A partnership agreement for the management and financing of KBNP is signed between the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for an initial period of 10 years.