Odzala Buffer Zone
The Odzala-Koukoua National Park is one of the most important strongholds for elephant and western gorilla conservation remaining in Central Africa and is arguably one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the world. The European Union has been actively supporting conservation in the Odzala-Koukoua Landscape since 1992 through their funding of the ECOFAC program in collaboration with the Government of Congo. WCS took steps in 2005 to establish a partnership with ECOFAC, WWF, and the Government of Congo to jointly address the key factors that are threats to biodiversity and forest state within the Odzala Landscape.
This partnership will include focused research and Ebola monitoring and a gorilla health program, developed with the WCS field vet program and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Congo, as well as the development of a wildlife management program in the 1 million hectare Ngombe concession (IFO-Danzer) bordering the Park to the east. This is based on the experience that WCS-Congo gained through working as a partner of the PROGEPP management program in the CIB concessions of Kabo, Pokola, Toukoulaka and Loundougou.
WCS conservation strategy in the Odzala landscape builds upon its experience and expands its existing support base in the Sangha Province including collaboration with the MEFE Regional Authorities, Ouesso-based authorities, the local NGO APDETS, and other partners.