As the Republic of Congo moves to ramp up its fossil fuel production, a coalition of environmental NGOs is raising alarms about the impending oil drilling in Conkouati-Douli National Park, the nation’s largest biodiversity reserve.
In early 2024, the Congolese government granted exploration permits covering 26% of the park to the Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) and Congo Holding United, a company primarily owned by China Oil Natural Gas Overseas Holding United. This decision has sparked significant backlash from conservation groups.
Following the precedent set by the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, Conkouati-Douli is now poised to face the environmental repercussions of oil exploitation. Environmental organizations, including Earth Insight and Greenpeace, along with 13 Congolese NGOs, have urged international donors to halt funding for the park’s conservation until the oil permits are revoked.
The Congolese government recently signed a $50 million forest protection agreement with international donors at COP28 in Dubai. This move is seen as contradictory by conservationists, who argue that the authorization of oil exploration undermines efforts to protect tropical forests and biodiversity.
“The decision to authorise oil exploration in the Conkouati block is a direct threat to the tropical forests and biodiversity that the government of the Republic of Congo and the international community, donors and environmentalists have pledged to protect,” said Stella Tchoukep, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.
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The Conkouati-Douli National Park, encompassing 5,000 km² of coastal, marine, and forest ecosystems, is a critical sanctuary for numerous endangered species, including the western lowland gorilla, chimpanzee, leatherback turtle, and forest elephant. The park also includes a Ramsar site, designated as a wetland of international importance.
Environmental campaigners warn that introducing extractive activities could severely degrade and fragment key landscapes, jeopardizing the ecosystem services they provide and the livelihoods of local communities. The Conkouati oil block is home to at least 7,000 people who are likely to suffer from environmental impacts associated with crude oil extraction.
Established by presidential decree in 1999, Conkouati-Douli has been co-managed since April 2021 by the French NGO Parcs de Noé and the Congolese government.
This partnership followed previous co-management agreements with the American Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The park’s preservation efforts have been supported by international entities such as the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD).
As the debate intensifies, the fate of Conkouati-Douli National Park hangs in the balance, caught between the country’s economic ambitions and the urgent need to protect its rich natural heritage.
Conservationists and local communities continue to push back against the oil exploration permits, striving to ensure that this unique biodiversity reserve is not sacrificed for short-term gains.
