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Luki Biosphere Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo

 

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.

Designation date: 1976

Regional network:  AfriMAB

Ecosystem-based network: 

  

    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