Located in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo and about 120 km east of the Atlantic coast, Luki Biosphere Reserve represents the humid tropical rain-forest ecosystem.
Description
Map
Surface: 33,000 ha
- Core area(s): 33,000 ha
- Buffer zone(s): N/A
- Transition zone(s): N/A
Location: N/A
Administrative Authorities
Laurent Nsenga
Directeur RB Luki
Coordinateur AfriMAB pour l'Afrique centrale
Villa H4, Poste Luki
Réserve de biosphère de Luki
Bas-Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel.: 243 898 066 967
Email: lnsenga@yahoo.fr
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Ecological Characteristics
Located in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo and about 120 km east of the Atlantic coast, Luki Biosphere Reserve represents the humid tropical rainforest ecosystem. In former times, this area was reserved in order to protect its natural resources for colonial interests.
In an altitude between 150 and 500 meters above sea level, many different habitats can be distinguished such as primary forests with Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum, Gilletiodendron kisantuense or Terminalia superba, secondary forests with Terminalia superba, woody and herbaceous savanna as well as agro-ecosystems and agroforestry systems.
The plant resources of the area are used for both commercial purposes (e.g. palm oil, coffee and cacao) and traditional nutrition (banana, taro, manioc, rice, corn, etc.).
Primary forests of Prioria balsamiferum, Chlorophoraexcelsa, Gilletiodendron kisantuensis; secondary forests of Terminalia superba; woodland savannahs; grassland savannahs; agro-forestry systems.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
About 7,100 people live within the biosphere reserve and some 64,200 nearby (2002).
The main economic activity is agriculture and agro-forestry. However, the biosphere reserve faces problems due to illegal forest exploitation (e.g.for fuel wood and house construction), carbonisation, hunting and fishing.
There is a great need for a plant and animal inventory of the biosphere reserve since many species disappear without being noticed.
A guide to the sustainable development of the biosphere reserve’s fauna has been developed recently (2002).
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Last updated: October 2019