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Created: Apr 15, 2024
https://regeneratedrc.framer.ai/
RegenerateDRC is a vital initiative building a network to connect, protect, and restore parts of the Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical forest, by empowering local communities in the DRC, currently focused in Idjwi and Goma centered around Lake Kivu. Led by the local NGO DEC (Environmental Rights and Citizenship), in collaboration with ReFiDRC and Yale School of the Environment, this project currently focuses on community-led regenerative reforestation and water sanitation. It aims to build ecological citizenship among local populations through education, capacity building, and direct action. This initiative supports public goods by providing non-excludable and inclusive access to improved environmental health and resources like advocacy efforts that empower as well as educate local communities about regenerative practices and ecosystem protection.
The Congo Basin is a critical carbon sink pivotal in global climate regulation, it faces a dire crisis that imperils its rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities. RegenerateDRC emerges as a beacon of hope, strategically positioned to address this escalating environmental challenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This initiative represents a vital effort in ecological conservation and community empowerment within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). By engaging with and bolstering the capacities of local and indigenous communities in key areas including North Kivu, South Kivu, Idjwi, Kalehe, Bukavu, and Goma, RegenerateDRC aims to foster a resilient and sustainable relationship between these communities and their natural environment. Collaborating closely with the local NGO DEC as well as ReFiDRC and Yale School of the Environment, the initiative embarks on a path of regenerative reforestation, improved water sanitation, and environmental education thereby nurturing ecological citizenship and promoting direct community action. This approach not only targets the immediate restoration and protection of the Congo Basin but also aspires to instill long-lasting ecological stewardship and resilience among the Congolese people, ensuring the continued survival and flourishing of this essential ecosystem. As a result, RegenerateDRC can open source a replicable model for global environmental restoration efforts, showcasing how local action can resonate on a global scale.
The urgent need for environmental restoration in the Congo Basin, coupled with the project's alignment with the principles of public goods, makes all support critical at this juncture. Funding and resources from public goods funding mechanisms like Gitcoin will enable us to scale our impact, ensuring that these non-rivalrous and non-excludable benefits reach as many people as possible, thereby maximizing the positive externalities for the global community. The funding and advisory support from the climate coordination network will crucially empower our reforestation initiatives in Idjwi and Goma, improve access to clean drinking water, and environmental education. Reforestation efforts are essential for ecological balance, biodiversity preservation, and climate action. In Goma, sustainable water resource management will address a fundamental human right, impacting health and socioeconomic conditions.
Our project is designed to be inclusive and accessible, embodying the principle of non-excludability. By engaging with local communities, promoting peer-to-peer education, and facilitating direct participation in environmental restoration, we ensure that no one is barred from contributing to or benefiting from the project's successes. The knowledge, skills, and improvements in environmental quality generated through this initiative are freely available to all participants and the wider community of Congolese locals and the YSE community. This approach not only fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards local ecosystems but also ensures that the benefits of healthier ecosystems, such as enhanced livelihoods and resilience to climate change, are shared by all, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographical location.