Dodé Houehounha, a doctoral student co-tutored by ERAIFT/ULiège, participated in the 26th IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, from June 24th to 28th. Representing ERAIFT, he led a workshop called "Conservation Challenges and Opportunities of UNESCO-designated Sites (World Heritage and Biosphere Reserves) in Central Africa" on June 25th at the booth of the Scientific and Academic College of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP). The workshop provided insights into ERAIFT's work in Central Africa, UNESCO-designated sites, and their conservation status in the region.
Throughout the week, he participated in 12 technical sessions focusing on governance and conflict management of natural resources. On June 27th, he presented a poster on the results of his current research on the "Impact of armed groups' Incursion into Protected Areas: a case study of the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger)." This was an excellent opportunity to share with the audience the importance of developing conservation strategies that meet the needs of forest-dependent communities and reduce their vulnerability to disaster.
ERAIFT would like to express gratitude to the European Union and AGRINATURA for their support in strengthening the capacities of protected area managers and promoting research, innovation, and applied science in Africa.
From 24 to 25 June 2024, ERAIFT took part in the 32nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, held at the Chanot Congress Centre in Marseille, France. This meeting was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of France. Fully organized in-person, it brought together around 1600 participants including policy makers, industry experts from around the world, high-level international scientists, young researchers, PhD students etc.
Addressing the balance between environmental sustainability and the economic performance of the entire biomass use chain, not to mention science, this conference covered all aspects related to biomass, from resources, research, innovation, the deployment of political actions. The exhibition focused on a close partnership between universities, research institutes and industry. Nearly 200 oral presentations were organized and 500 posters were exhibited.
This conference was also an opportunity for ERAIFT to present some postdoctoral research results related to integrated forest management in the Congo Basin.
ERAIFT thanks the organizing committee for having been associated to international meeting. ERAIFT expresses its gratitude to the European Union and AGRINATURA for their support and partnership.
From 18 June to 21 June, the new President of the ERAIFT Board of Administration went to the HEC campus (University of Liège), Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (University of Liège), the Rectorate of the University of Liège and the University of Ghent to meet ERAIFT's partners in many joint projects and to strengthen links with partner institutions.
The discussions and meetings were fruitful and will allow ERAIFT to improve its cooperation with its technical and financial partners soon.
ERAIFT thanks the University of Liège and the University of Ghent for their warm welcome and availability.
From June 17 to 20, 2024, ERAIFT took part in the 2nd international scientific workshop organized by CIFOR-ICRAF in Bonn (Germany). By implementing the applied research program in ecology and social sciences of forest ecosystems in Central Africa (RESSAC), CIFOR-ICRAF aims to strengthen the impact of research on the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Central Africa. On the occasion of this workshop, ERAIFT notably presented the progress of its project relating to "Assessment of the value of Ecosystem Services of the Luki Biosphere Reserve" - a project whose results will contribute to preparing the transition to a green economy for the benefit of local populations and conservation, while developing a functional mechanism between suppliers and consumers of Ecosystem Services.
ERAIFT thanks the European Union for funding this program, as well as CIFOR-ICRAF for associating it with this scientific workshop of international scope.
ERAIFT also expresses to AGRINATURA for the means made available to ensure its representativeness in activities of international scope.
On Thursday 20 June 2024, ERAIFT organised an information meeting for national and regional stakeholders on the implementation and progress of the project "Making the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve a centre of excellence for climate and biodiversity". This hybrid workshop was attended by several partners, including representatives of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, UNESCO, the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, the private sector (SODEFOR), civil society, Congolese and regional higher education and university institutions, and the Congolese press
The workshop was launched by Professor Jean Pierre Mate, representing the Director of ERAIFT. In his speech, he congratulated all the participants on their availability and recalled the objectives of the meeting, while underlining the importance of the contribution expected from the participants for improvement.
Mr Guillaume E. Gillard, representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, then emphasised the importance of the workshop at both national and international level. He then presented Yangambi's role in the government's national vision on climate, as well as Belgium's commitment to boost research activities in the Yangambi landscape.
A synopsis of the project's progress, including the actors involved, the activities carried out and the results achieved, was presented by the project coordinator. Next, ERAIFT and the Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité respectively presented the results obtained in the implementation of their activities.
Following discussions and debates, the participants formulated a number of recommendations on the common management strategy for the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, including: bringing scientists, political decision-makers and the private sector closer together to ensure better appropriation of research results; raising awareness among local stakeholders (political decision-makers and local communities) of the role of Biosphere Reserves and the importance of research; updating the mapping of Reserve boundaries; and promoting an entrepreneurial culture.
ERAIFT expresses its gratitude to the Kingdom of Belgium for funding this project. It also thanks UNESCO for associating it with the implementation of the project. ERAIFT also thanks the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, MAB, INERA and all the other partners involved in the project for their invaluable collaboration.
The "Ecole Régionale postuniversitaire d'Aménagement et Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, ERAIFT", a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, organised the private defence of two PhD theses in Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands on Saturday 15/06/2024, from 9am to 3.30pm (Kinshasa time).
The first thesis was entitled "Contribution à l'analyse de la gouvernance décentralisée et participative de l'eau potable : le cas des ASUREP en zone périurbaine de Kinshasa (RD Congo)", and was defended by Mr DITONA TSUMBU Hippolyte, research assistant at ERAIFT. The second speaker, Mr NTUMBA MABEDI Jean Métis, addressed the issue of fisheries resource management in the Malebo Pool, in terms of the taxonomy, biology, ecology and exploitation of fish of the genus Marcusenius Gill 1862 (Mormyridae).
These studies were defended in a hybrid format, both in-class at ERAIFT and online, before an international and interdisciplinary jury made up of teacher-researchers from African and European universities. These two candidates are regularly enrolled in ERAIFT's doctoral programme and have also published several international scientific papers based on their research work.
After their oral presentation, discussions and exchanges between the recipients and the members of the jury, the two theses were admitted to the public defence with the mention "Great Distinction"
Finally, ERAIFT sincerely thanks its financial and technical partners for their multifaceted support and renewed confidence. It also expresses its gratitude to the members of the Jury for their availability and commitment.
Campus UNIKIN - BP 15373 - Kinshasa - Commune de Lemba - RD Congo