Context : motivation

Biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the wider Congo Basin remains poorly understood, both at alpha diversity, molecular and ecological levels. Without knowing what lifeforms are present in this country, biologists cannot properly understand the ecology leading to weak sustainable management such as protection by conservationists and rational harvest. While the DRC represents about 65% of the Congo Basin area, nine other countries represent about 35%.

Both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in this basin host an impressive biodiversity. In the basin, almost 75% of the fish species are endemic. Plant, fish, bird, mammal species and other emblematic taxa are reported in this basin. For example, particular fish species in large lakes such as Tanganyika, Kivu or depression lakes such as Kamalondo Depression underscore the statement above. The lakes and rivers also provide to local populations socio-economic value for their fish, molluscs etc.

In general, the terrestrial landscape, the rivers, lakes etc. within the basin have been partially explored, or, altogether unexplored either, by the lack of adequate fundings and infrastructure facilities. While these facilities form the prerequisites through which future experts would be trained in various fields of research such as in classical taxonomy, in DNA based taxonomy, phylogeny, in basic and experimental ecology, to address the questions regarding the basic taxonomy and evolution using DNA markers. Thus, to perpetuate research and refine thereof our understanding of biodiversity based on sustainable management strategies may be addressed at the basin and the local scales.

For this purpose, the Centre for Research in Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (CRBEC) has been created to fill the existing gap related to and promoting the research in biodiversity.

Objective(s)

General

Specifics

• Provide an adequate framework for conducting research

• Assist researchers during the bursary applications and/or research grants.

• Promote research on biodiversity using morphological, molecular and ecological data (obtained in the wild or under experimental conditions), focusing on studies related to the evolutionary perspectives, and based on the collated data, we will be able to formulate different strategies for sustainable management of natural resources.

• To propagate the results obtained by researchers in the above-mentioned fields, and to tone down the academic language by which the results are presented making them digestible and useful for the native population at each municipality.

• To be involved in biological conservation using an approach focusing on awareness-raising and to participate in local politics related to biodiversity management, such as involving in the production of policy briefs.

• To participate in the training of fish farmers as a surrogate strategy for overexploitation of fish during which we may introduce the domestication of wild species in controlled environments.

• Participate in reforestation activities and other techniques that may enhance the protection of threatened plant or land species.

• Anticipate and counteract all adverse effects that may exacerbate the environmental degradation in the sub-region and lead to global warming.

• Provide all services to society such as environmental and social impact studies before the implementation of large projects.