OUR
WORK
For many years, the park had been neglected and forgotten. Calls to save Upemba only recently received a response. As the managing partner, we set out on a mission to develop effective partnerships - between the DRC government and other entities - for the sound management and ecological restoration of Upemba, and turn the park into a model for participatory conservation in the DRC.
Security
Ensuring the protection of wildlife, its habitat, and park personnel is at the core of Upemba’s operations. The park faces persistent threats, including poaching, illegal mining, deforestation, uncontrolled bushfires, unsustainable fishing, and unauthorized settlements. In the past, armed militia groups established camps within the park and controlled nearly 75% of its territory, severely undermining conservation efforts.
Today, strategic improvements in security—such as permanent patrols, the expansion of surveillance networks, and the systematic reopening of tracks within the park—are shifting this reality. As control over the park strengthens, conservation efforts can be implemented more effectively, leading to tangible ecological recovery. The increased stability within the park is also fostering safer conditions for surrounding communities, reducing conflict and improving human-wildlife coexistence.
Through our "Approche Paysage," we recognize that a well-protected park is not just a sanctuary for biodiversity but also a foundation for thriving communities. By securing Upemba, we aim to create a ripple effect—where conservation and local well-being go hand in hand, ensuring a sustainable future for both people and nature.
Conservation
Upemba National Park plays a vital role in the ecological integrity of the Congo Basin. Established as a protected area in 1939, it was the third and largest national park in Africa at the time, a status justified by its exceptional biodiversity and ecological significance. Straddling the Zambezian and Guinean biogeographic regions, Upemba remains a stronghold for unique and endangered species, making its conservation efforts critical for regional and global biodiversity.
Restoring Upemba’s ecosystems is a priority, with ongoing efforts to rehabilitate degraded habitats and strengthen ecological processes. Scientific research serves as the backbone of these initiatives, guiding conservation strategies to ensure the long-term recovery of the park and the species it shelters. Collaborative partnerships are paving the way for a robust community-based conservation model, recognizing local communities as key stakeholders in safeguarding Upemba’s future.
Today, Upemba is home to the last remaining buffalo in Katanga, the country’s only wild zebra population, and the last pure savanna elephants in the DRC. These flagship species, alongside over 1,800 documented species—including the endemic Upemba Lechwe—are central to conservation priorities. Regular biodiversity surveys and biomonitoring patrols continue to uncover species once thought lost, underscoring the park’s ecological richness and its potential for full restoration.
By integrating science, security, and community engagement, Upemba is redefining conservation in the DRC—working toward a resilient, thriving landscape where both wildlife and people can coexist in balance.
Development
The vocation of Upemba National Park is to become a green engine for economic development in the region and a model of conservation in the DRC, Africa and the world. In the pursuit of this ideal, we have undertaken several development projects that aim at enhancing the quality of life for populations living within the Upemba Neighborhood. These projects aim at food-resilience (AGRIFOOD) with the support of the European Union, and reorganization of fishing in the lake Upemba, a project that has yielded impressive results.
Relying on participatory conservation and the vision of community conservation, the park has adopted the "Green Alliance of Grand Katanga" framework that will lead the process of creating a “green economy.” This will require addressing issues such as land tenure security, developing land use plans that include protecting open miombo forests, and finding energy sources that are alternatives to charcoal.
