Eco-tourism investigation
Priority Initiative: Sustainable Eco-Tourism in the Congo Basin
The Congo Basin—one of Earth’s most vital ecological regions—faces escalating threats from illegal logging, wildlife poaching, and unsustainable extraction of timber and minerals, all of which undermine biodiversity and local livelihoods. These pressures jeopardize communities who rely on the forest for food, water, cultural identity, and economic survival.
Through this priority initiative, CRIAfrik is developing a sustainable, not-for-profit eco-tourism model designed to protect the forest ecosystem while creating viable, long-term economic opportunities for local people. Guided by field research and successful global examples of eco-tourism in tropical forests and biosphere reserves, the approach combines environmental stewardship, scientific collaboration, and equitable benefit-sharing.
Role of Baka Communities
At the heart of this effort are Baka communities in and around the Dja landscape, whose traditional forest knowledge and cultural practices make them natural guardians of the forest. By engaging them as guides, educators, and managers, the initiative promotes a model where local people are empowered as primary stewards of their natural heritage rather than marginalized by conservation.
The initiative aims to:
Create sustainable employment that reduces pressure from illegal logging, bushmeat hunting, and other extractive activities.
Strengthen forest stewardship by demonstrating that intact, well-managed forests provide greater long-term benefits than short-term exploitation.
Protect biodiversity through carefully controlled eco-tourism infrastructure designed for minimal environmental impact in a UNESCO-recognized landscape.
2026 Research Tours
In 2026, CRIAfrik will take a major step toward implementation by supporting four to five guided research tours of the Dja Biosphere Reserve for graduate students and environmental researchers. These expeditions will combine field-based learning, data collection, and conservation training within one of Central Africa’s most important protected forests.
To ensure local capacity building, each tour will reserve places specifically for Cameroonian students, enabling them to access high-quality field experience without leaving their own country. This emphasis on local participation aligns with best practice in people-centered conservation and strengthens long-term stewardship of the Dja.
2026 Pilot Commercial Tour
By the end of 2026, CRIAfrik plans to launch a pilot commercial eco-tour that showcases the Dja’s ecological richness and cultural heritage under strict sustainability criteria. The program will include guided forest excursions, locally sourced meals, field accommodations, customary knowledge instruction, and community-led cultural events, designed to ensure that tourism revenue circulates within nearby communities.
Income from this pilot tour will be reinvested into conservation activities, local training, and community enterprises, creating a circular model where tourism supports both ecosystem protection and human development. The pilot will also generate operational data and impact metrics to inform scaling of future, community-driven tourism programs.
Invitation to Donor Partners
CRIAfrik’s model is built on fiscal transparency, community partnership, and scientific rigor, aligned with emerging best practices for integrated conservation and development in the Congo Basin. Donor support will directly underwrite field logistics, scholarships for Cameroonian students, fair compensation for Baka guides and cultural practitioners, and the design of minimally intrusive infrastructure.
Join Us as a Founding Partner
Your support can help launch a sustainable future for one of the planet’s most critical ecosystems by aligning conservation finance with local livelihoods. By partnering with CRIAfrik, you will fund employment opportunities, research collaborations, and community-driven conservation within the Dja Biosphere Reserve. Together, this partnership can demonstrate that protecting forests is not only an environmental imperative but also a powerful pathway to equitable local development.
For partnership inquiries or to discuss tailored sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@criafrik.org.cri-afrik
