Just Forests Stories: DRC Edition
What's good in the world? The heroes saving Indigenous knowledge
Article by Paula Haltmann- July 2025
Traditional knowledge lies at the core of Indigenous identity. Carefully developed over thousands of years, this knowledge enables Indigenous peoples to care for the ecosystems on which we all depend. The United Nations supports this notion and argues that the sharing of this knowledge “from one generation to the next must be protected, preserved and encouraged” (United Nations, 2019). If we fail in this, traditional practices are at risk of being lost forever.
Thankfully, the Integrated Programme for the Development of the Pygmy People (PIDP) is working tirelessly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to ensure that these valuable practices and knowledge are not lost! Especially those of the Batwa Bambuti Babuluko Pygmy peoples, who are at great risk of disappearing (Bambuti DR Congo, 2025). Every year, the PIDP hosts a joyous festival that welcomes hundreds of Indigenous peoples from different communities and provinces, along with political and administrative authorities, religious leaders and civil society actors. Together, everyone celebrates the local agro-socio-traditional MBOSA days. Indigenous youth and guests go on a collective journey of discovery to learn about the cultural and natural knowledge preserved by the Indigenous elders of Kisimbosa – all in a joint effort to help revitalise traditional practices (YouTube, 2024).
The MBOSA days are hosted in Kisimbosa territory, an Indigenous and Community Heritage area in North Kivu. The Kisimbosa Chamakasa site is home to a living ecosystem of forests and rivers that covers an area of 5572.57 hectares, supporting rich flora and fauna including non-human great apes, wild boars, leopards, giraffes and fish. Living in harmony with this beautiful nature are diverse groups of Indigenous people who have close, spiritual ties to the land.
Revitalising food knowledge while fighting to protect forest biodiversity
Despite their close connection with the land, troublesome, outside pressures have caused damage, reducing forest biodiversity. The consequent loss of traditional plant species has forced Indigenous peoples to eat imported and processed foods which negatively affect their health. To help address this, the MBOSA days include a revitalisation of food knowledge, to encourage Indigenous peoples’ self-sufficiency and to protect their food sovereignty. Traditional plant species are also a valuable source of herbal medicine capable of treating the symptoms of or even curing illness and disease! (Mukumo, 2021)
To raise awareness about the importance of plant and animal conservation, guests were taught the ways and benefits of sustainable, community practices. These practices prevent over-harvesting of precious resources, to ensure their availability for future generations. Worryingly, the monitoring and conservation efforts of Indigenous people are under threat by illegal hunting and exploitation. Awareness of these illegal activities was also raised at the MBOSA days where state officials and police were present. In response to their call for help, the adviser to the Prime Minister, Richard Bokatola, promised government support. The PIDP has since been personally invited by the DRC government to participate in a task force aimed at raising public awareness of environmental protection laws. Despite this recognition, the PIDP hopes that further government support and action is still forthcoming. Indigenous people’s initiatives continue to be largely neglected in national environmental, social and development programmes, so they are rightfully so, still calling for support and inclusion (YouTube, 2024).
Saviour from religious leaders
Outside of the government, the MBOSA days received much needed support from religious leaders of the Catholic Church, the Church of Christ in Congo, and the Islamic representation of the Territory of Walikale. All three are engaged in a forest protection dynamic known as the Interreligious Initiative for Tropical Forests (IRI). Thankfully, the IRI is committed to supporting the Indigenous peoples of Kisimbosa to help promote the maintenance of biodiversity, as part of their pledge to nurture and protect all of God’s creations. Religious leaders carry a lot of influence and are highly respected by the public, so their support and willingness to share the knowledge of Indigenous peoples was celebrated (Mukumo, 2021).
Women’s role in knowledge conservation and livelihood creation
Along with the youth, Indigenous women were also celebrated at the MBOSA days, as they play a crucial role in the preservation of traditional knowledge and practices. Their understanding of natural resources enables them to build sustainable livelihoods to support themselves and their families, through the sustainable collection and extraction of non-timber forest products. The promotion of Indigenous women’s knowledge proved to be a great economic opportunity to sell local goods, which were bought in huge numbers by guests at the festival. In a big win for the women, strong demand meant local products sold for double their normal market selling price! From one success to another, the women then established sustainable agricultural co-operatives to localise value chains, helping even more women access markets. Future MBOSA day festivals aim to further increase the involvement of Indigenous women to increase their participation in more decision-making processes. It is hoped that this will strengthen women’s role in the management and governance of natural resources (Mukumo, 2021).
The future of Kivu province and its peoples
The knowledge carried by the Indigenous elders of Kisimbosa Chamakasa is extremely precious, but equally at risk of being lost forever. Thankfully, the local MBOSA days hosted by PIDP have been very well attended by Indigenous youth and guests, creating massive hope for the future survival of this cultural and natural knowledge. At the MBOSA days, elders are teaching younger generations how to revitalise food and health knowledge, and how to monitor and maintain sustainable conservation efforts. Indigenous women are also sharing their knowledge of traditional practices that allow for sustainable livelihood creation, teaching youths the value of non-timber products. Excitingly, Indigenous youths are combining all this knowledge learnt with the use of technology, bridging the old with the new to strengthen sustainable forest management.
All these efforts are under threat, however, by growing war and conflict in Kivu. Some comfort has been found from religious leaders who are providing support and helping to spread Indigenous knowledge even further. The national government has not yet proved as supportive, but there is a promise of more support to come. Yet, in the face of everything, the communities of Kisimbosa remain steadfastly committed to sustaining their knowledge and are even in the process of building a museum that will showcase valuable traditional and ancestral artefacts. Ecotourism is also growing in Kivu, with access routes greatly improved. This all allows for a continued celebration of natural wildlife and Indigenous knowledge, outside of the MBOSA days. So, even in the face of conflict, there remains hope for future generations!
Learn more about the Green Livelihoods Alliance here: https://greenlivelihoodsalliance.org/
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