Awarded in 2025
Based in Jupudok and Jupulobo Villages, Mokambo Chiefdom, Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Abeda Valeriano was recognised as a 2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize laureate for his commitment to land conservation, community mobilisation, food sovereignty and environmental justice in the Lendu Plateau landscape.
Peasant leader, forester and community mobiliser, Abeda's work focuses on restoring ecosystems and defending land rights along the Kakoi River corridor in the Lendu Plateau, including areas of Ruvinga in Mukambu. His leadership addresses the intersection of environmental degradation, food insecurity and land injustice in one of Ituri’s most ecologically sensitive landscapes.
He supports large scale restoration along riverbanks and degraded land, protecting water sources that sustain agriculture and communities downstream. By mobilising farmers and local leaders, he promotes sustainable land management practices that reduce erosion, protect biodiversity and restore soil productivity.
Abeda is also a strong advocate for land rights. He works with communities to resist land grabbing and unsustainable exploitation, emphasising that secure land tenure is essential for long term conservation and food production. His leadership reinforces the role of peasant farmers as custodians of land and biodiversity.
Through sustainable farming practices, Abeda produces food while maintaining forest cover and water integrity. His work contributes to species protection, watershed conservation and economic justice, ensuring that environmental restoration benefits those who depend directly on the land.
