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The word ‘conservation’ often conjures up images of iconic wildlife such as elephants, whales, tigers and pandas. One imagines them roaming in the wild amid lush forests or savannas or swimming in the vast blue sea. There is also another side of conservation that is far less visible or rather, difficult to visualize and that is the complex and relatively long, arduous process of protecting the habitats and ecosystems where these iconic species live and that communities living around them depend on for their well-being and livelihoods.

As part of our efforts to ‘decode conservation’, this article aims to explain how areas are identified for protection for conservation purposes, the determining criteria and the different processes that usually follow. To do so, we will look at the specific case of Messok Dja in the Republic of Congo (RoC) where exactly such a process is currently underway.

It is important to note that these efforts and processes are led, first and foremost, by governments in line with national conservation and sustainable development plans and priorities. For example, protecting Messok Dja, which you will read about in an instant, is part of the Republic of Congo’s efforts to meet its international obligations under Aichi Target 1 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Other institutions and civil society organizations such as WWF come in support, depending on the presence, expertise and capacity they have in country.

Identifying the need for protection for a specific area or ecosystem:
WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018 shows that unsustainable human activity has severely impacted the habitats and natural resources that wildlife and humanity depend on such as oceans, forests, coral reefs, wetlands and mangroves. 20 per cent of the Amazon has disappeared in just 50 years and we have lost about half of the earth’s  shallow water corals in the past 30 years. On average, we’ve seen an astonishing 60 per cent decline in the size of populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians in just over 40 years. As we erode these natural places and nature, we are undermining their ability to provide the supply of fresh air, clean water, food, energy, medicines and other products and materials we all depend on, along with the other species we share our one planet with. This is why, at times, it is important to put in place strengthened protections for a specific area or ecosystem and Messok Dja is one such place.

It is part of the Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkebe (TRIDOM) landscape which is one of the most intact forest blocks in the Congo Basin. The region is home to the largest elephant population in the Congo Basin, western gorillas and central chimpanzees, 11 species of monkeys, three species of pangolin, the endangered African grey parrot, the enigmatic Picathartes and the majestic crowned eagle. A recent WWF biodiversity survey of the Messok Dja forest found its dense foliage to be an important migration corridor for animals between National Parks in Cameroon and Republic of Congo. Alongside this incredible wildlife indigenous peoples depend on the forest for food, medicine, housing and much more. Protecting this ecosystem from degradation or deforestation is key to all of their health, well-being and future. But at present, the Messok Dja forest is part of two commercial logging operations which does not provide sufficient protection.

Understanding the legal provisions in place to create/strengthen protections:
The legal provisions to create or strengthen protections for a specific area or landscape differ from country to country. In the Republic of Congo land use and ownership can be either individual or collective and is determined by the ownership of land titles. Still, land can be expropriated by the state for public utility purposes. Rights to land and use for Indigenous communities in the Republic of Congo are recognized by law, even in the absence of a land title. But at present there is no national government policy or decree on the implementation of this law, leading to challenges in claiming these rights in practice. The creation of any type of protected area is always at the discretion of the government, which also decides the category of protection.

Determining the level of protection best suited for conservation and communities:
In the Republic of Congo, the government decides the type of protected area status a particular landscape or area will be awarded. There are five categories of land protection that exist at present in the Republic of Congo:
- National parks
- Integral natural reserve
- Wildlife reserve
- Special reserve or wildlife sanctuary
- Designated hunting zones

Messok Dja falls under the Forest law, which demands both logging concessions designate a part of their concession as a conserved area, where they cannot harvest trees. This is called a serie de conservation. Both companies have agreed to place their serie de conservation in the Messok Dja forest. This however only protects this forest as long as the same company holds the concession rights. Therefore, a discussion is underway between the government and the two logging companies to establish long term protection of the Messok Dja forest - and its unique biodiversity.

Consulting all stakeholders, importantly local and indigenous communities:
As the government deliberates, we at WWF feel it is critical all stakeholders are consulted, importantly local and indigenous communities. This is in line with our belief that people and conservation are two sides of the same coin, as outlined in several WWF policies, such as WWF's Statement of Principles on Indigenous Peoples and Conservation and WWF’s Policy on Poverty and Conservation.

Internationally, this is known as the process for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Even while there is a provision for FPIC in Congolese law, that law currently has no decret d' application which means it is not being implemented. Therefore, WWF has been advocating for the government to apply an FPIC approach for the creation of the future Messok Dja protected area. Without a legal framework in place, the work is undoubtedly challenging but we remain committed to follow best practices based on FPIC procedures that are in use elsewhere. In addition, we are consulting and advocating for the inclusion of a formal process of FPIC in the new Congolese forest code bill, currently awaiting adoption.

The first step in an FPIC process is to identify stakeholders and we have initiated a participatory land use proces to see who is using the Messok Dja forest. As a next step, we intend to bring in additional external support through a consortium of three NGOs, two Congolese and one Gabonese, specialized in socio-economic issues to help ensure a proper FPIC in the process to change the status of Messok Dja. The consortium is called Cercle des Peuples Autochtones de la Sangha (CPAS).

Final legal act or decree:
The culmination of these efforts could be a final act or decree awarding a stronger protection status for Messok Dja, one of the Congo Basin’s most biodiverse sites that underpins the health and well-being of its ecosystems, wildlife and communities. But the communities can also refuse or propose a different future for this forest. The way the process evolves cannot be foreseen and can take years - the government of the Republic of Congo first started considering a different protection status for Messok Dja in 2011. WWF remains committed to do our best to ensure we can work together with all stakeholders to identify the best way forward to protect these lands and the people and species that depend on it.



Update as of November 2019:

As described above, identifying the type of protection best suited for biodiversity hotspots and the people and nature that depend on them is a complex, and at times long, process. Since this article was written, several efforts have been taking place to ensure the voices of affected or potentially affected communities. Both indigenous and Bantu, living in the vicinity of Messok Dja are being heard as the Republic of Congo considers possibilities for conserving these invaluable forests against escalating pressures. As part of these efforts, WWF commissioned two expert independent bodies to assess, support and lead consultation efforts (FPIC) underway and based on their reports submitted in 2019, we are currently working with stakeholders to identify the various options for conserving the forest while benefiting local communities. Read more here.

Update as of May 2020:
In 2019, the government of the Republic of Congo updated the country’s legal provisions on obtaining Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples to establish bottom-up participation and consultation of communities in advance of development on or changes in customary land and resources rights within an indigenous population's territory.

WWF, along with many other organizations, has long advocated with the Republic of Congo to strengthen its legal provisions on FPIC and congratulates the Republic of Congo for taking those steps in 2019. With the strengthened provisions now in place, WWF is discussing with the Republic of Congo government and other partners how to support the lead for FPIC work by the Republic of Congo's Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and the Promotion of Indigenous People and Ministry of Forestry Economy to assume the responsibility for advancing and strengthening ongoing work. As we continue our collaboration with our partners and stakeholders on a number of other work streams in the region, we will continue to support and advocate for FPIC, and look forward to contributing to these efforts as part of the FPIC Consultation Committee the government will establish.

The Messok Dja consultation is one of many community engagements that WWF has and will participate in connected to our conservation efforts.  Over the last decade, we have engaged with a wide range of partners to assist with consultations across the globe relating to protected areas, REDD+ and climate efforts.  Every engagement has its own unique challenges and we are learning and adapting as we go.  

Over the course of the coming months WWF will also be hosting a series of Global Dialogues bringing together multi-lateral and national leaders, corporate partners, fellow NGOs from multiple sectors, and representatives from local communities that have been engaged in these types of consultation processes. We look forward to sharing the proceedings from those sessions to help inform our collective evolution in ensuring conservation benefits both people and nature.