[Based on the Project Design Document under validation with the CDM in February 2011: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/Validation/DB/96G0M9Q69QM250KM51XO0SFEWR47WD/view.html ]

The Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI), Infrastrutture e Servizi S.p.A. (IN SER) and Associazione di Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale (AVSI) will jointly coordinate reforestation activities in the Lopori River Basin in a region of the Congo Basin’s Cuvette Centrale. This area is also designated by the Congo Basin Forest Partnership as the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Forest Landscape and includes the Kokolopori Reserve.

A new forest-covered area will be established to enhance carbon sinks and to establish a standard natural habitat unit for Bonobo (Pan paniscus). This species of non-human primates is the most similar to humans with 99% of genome in common with Homo sapiens. It is endemic of the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and it is currently at high risk of extinction. Recent conflict fragmented and decimated the Bonobo population which dropped, according to some estimates, from 100 000 individuals in 1980 to less than 10 000 today. The subsequent peace increased logging in the few places where isolated Bonobo populations are still living. A recent United Nations study indicated that, with infrastructure growing at current speed, the undisturbed Bonobo habitat which remains is projected to be only 4% of its original range by 2030. This range will be the most limited habitat of any great ape. The geographical region of the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba has been identified as an important area for biodiversity and has been designated as one of 11 priority landscapes under the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. One of the major threats for Bonobos and other species has been the fragmentation of the forests.

The major purposes of the project activity are to:

• Enhance carbon sinks through reforestation
  
• Safeguard Bonobos by creating forest corridors to connect isolated Bonobo populations
  
• Enhance biodiversity conservation by restoring the degraded lands.
  
• Uplift the socio-economic status of local people as well as their motivation to support biodiversity conservation

The project activity will target specific areas of degraded and cleared forests to establish corridors that may promote habitat viability for previously isolated and fragmented Bonobo populations. The lands to be reforested are degraded lands occupied mostly by grasses and shrubs. These lands have been severely degrading over the last decades and would continue to degrade without the implementation of this project. Current environmental conditions do not permit the encroachment of natural forest vegetation. The lands to be reforested are located in a reserve area, Kokolopori Reserve, and are owned by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reforestation will be done with Aucoumea klaineana trees based on a plantation period of 13 years. Yearly plantation will be 500 hectares and the total reforested area 5 000 hectares.