Biodiversity Conservation

Odzala-Kokoua National Park hosts one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world and is home to Critically Endangered western lowland gorilla, elusive forest elephant and over 440 bird species – and has been recognised as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. There are an estimated 100 mammal species in the park, including buffalo, bongo and many other antelope species. 

The region’s protected areas are home to the largest remaining forest elephant population in Central Africa. Once severely threatened by ivory poaching, these elephants are now beginning to stabilise thanks to effective conservation law enforcement and ongoing community engagement.

Gorillas have also faced steep declines due to diseases such as Ebola and the illegal wildlife trade for bushmeat and pets. However, increased protection efforts, positive community development initiatives, and the creation of the Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary are also helping to reverse this trend. Daily monitoring and tracking to habituate gorilla groups not only supports tourism opportunities but also generates vital research data to guide conservation strategies.

Camera traps and timelapse videos help shed  light on the role of bais (natural clearings in the forest) by wildlife, which use these key landscape features as a source of minerals, including salt.  An arboreal camera trap installed 20 metres high in a tropical-forest tree monitored species at tree level and caught footage that often goes unnoticed by ground camera traps. This included three rare species: the Gabon squirrel galago, Nagtglas’ African dormouse and the African palm civet. 

Elephant and hyaena collars help monitor species movements for better insight into behaviour and use of the landscape. In particular, elephant collar data has shown the critical importance of the IFO Ngombé forest concession as a key linkage to the larger landscape. 

Parkwide forest transects and human impact surveys, covering the Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary and the adjacent forestry concession, IFO Ngombé, have helped identify species population trends as well as human impacts, adding insight to conservation management strategies in these areas.  While quarterly aerial savannah surveys show promising wildlife numbers across the park.

In 2024, the second round of the VNU (Verifiable Nature Unit) pilot data collection was completed, with a third planned for 2025. Through this outcomes-based mechanism, land stewards are rewarded for conservation and restoration efforts. Each VNU represents 1 km² of nature to be maintained in its current state or transitioned to an improved state from one year to the next. Success is measured by evaluating human pressures on land, species loss, and whether healthy ecosystems can be sustained.

Despite their vast size, tropical forests are sensitive to disturbances within the ecosystem, and the demise of keystone species, such as forest elephant, can cause the decline of many others. Therefore, effective conservation law enforcement helping to reduce unsustainable, illegal resource use, is essential in ensuring the fragile balance is kept. A well-trained ranger team, coupled with positive community engagement, helps to curb illegal activity within the park. Odzala’s Information Analysis (IA) unit contributes to the confiscation of ivory, pangolin scales and the removal of weapons used for illegal bushmeat hunting. As a result, wildlife numbers are predominantly stable, with some populations increasing.

Using EarthRanger technology, a control room collects real-time data on vehicle movements, ranger team locations, movements of collared animals and illegal incidents, helping the park to respond effectively to information received from teams in the field. In addition to basic field ranger training, all rangers receive annual refresher training, including human rights training sessions held in collaboration with Congolese human rights NGO, Cercle des Droits de l'homme et du Développement (CDHD).