Across the tropics, governments and donors are investing billions of dollars in forest and landscape restoration. Yet one of the most persistent barriers to success remains largely invisible: the shortage of quality native seed.
In many restoration landscapes, degraded forests are replanted with whatever seed is available at the time of planting. Information on seed origin, genetic diversity and suitability for local conditions is often limited. Natural seed sources are poorly documented, fragmented or declining. As a result, restoration can produce simplified forests that fail to recover biodiversity, resist climate stress or deliver lasting livelihood benefits.
On the Lendu Plateau in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Association for the Promotion of Agriculture, Fishing and Livestock, known as APAPE, is addressing this bottleneck at its source. With grant support and technical accompaniment from Environmental Defenders, APAPE has established a native seed bank dedicated to conserving and supplying indigenous tree species for restoration across the Albertine Rift landscapes overlooking Lake Albert.
A biodiversity hotspot under pressure
The Lendu Plateau forms part of the greater Albertine Rift, one of Africa’s most biologically significant regions. Forest fragments in this landscape support endemic plant species, regulate water systems that feed Lake Albert, and provide food, medicine and fuelwood to surrounding farming communities.
Decades of conflict, agricultural expansion, charcoal production and weak forest governance have left many hillsides degraded. Native tree populations have been reduced to scattered stands. Seed sources that once regenerated forests naturally are increasingly rare.
Restoration is urgently needed. But without reliable supplies of diverse, locally adapted seed, restoration efforts risk becoming short lived or ecologically impoverished.
Building the genetic foundation for restoration
APAPE’s native seed bank is designed to secure the genetic resources of key indigenous species and ensure their availability for restoration and community use.
The seed bank performs four central functions.
First, it conserves genetic diversity. Seeds are collected from remnant forest patches and carefully documented, processed and stored. By recording seed origin and maintaining traceability, APAPE strengthens the ecological integrity of future restoration plantings.
Second, it stabilizes seed supply. Many native tropical species do not fruit every year, and seed availability can fluctuate widely. By banking seeds during mast years and developing local seed calendars, APAPE reduces the risk of planting delays and improves planning for restoration projects.
Third, it strengthens local capacity. Community members are trained in sustainable seed collection, post harvest handling, viability testing and nursery propagation. This creates income opportunities while embedding conservation knowledge within the community.
Fourth, it links conservation with climate resilience. Genetically diverse native forests are better equipped to withstand drought, pests and changing rainfall patterns. By prioritizing indigenous species adapted to the Lendu Plateau’s ecological conditions, the seed bank enhances long term ecosystem stability.
Priority native species and their conservation status
APAPE’s seed collections focus on tree species that are ecologically important, culturally valued and regionally native to the Albertine Rift and Ituri forests. These include:
African mahogany, Khaya anthotheca
A large canopy species valued for its high quality timber and ecological role in mature forests. It is native to Central and East Africa. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Khaya anthotheca is currently assessed as Vulnerable due to overexploitation and habitat loss. Banking its seeds supports both conservation and restoration of structurally complex forests.
African teak or iroko, Milicia excelsa
A long lived hardwood species widely distributed in tropical Africa. It is categorized as Near Threatened due to heavy logging pressure. It provides important habitat and shade and is valued locally for construction timber.
Shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa
Best known for its shea butter, this species is native to the Sudano Sahelian belt but extends into parts of northern and eastern DRC in suitable savanna woodlands. It is currently assessed as Vulnerable in parts of its range due to land conversion and overharvesting. Shea is critical for women’s livelihoods and food security, and its inclusion strengthens the link between restoration and income generation.
Entandrophragma species such as Entandrophragma cylindricum and Entandrophragma utile
These high value timber species occur in moist semi deciduous forests of Central Africa. Both have been assessed as Vulnerable because of intense logging. Conserving and restoring these species helps rebuild commercially and ecologically valuable forest stands.
Afzelia africana
A large savanna and woodland tree valued for timber and fodder. It is assessed as Vulnerable due to habitat degradation and exploitation. It also improves soil fertility and supports agroforestry systems.
Albizia species such as Albizia gummifera
Fast growing nitrogen fixing trees that enhance soil quality and facilitate forest succession. While not globally threatened, they play a key ecological role in early stage restoration.
Cordia africana
A multipurpose tree used for timber, shade and traditional medicine. It is categorized as Vulnerable in parts of its range due to deforestation and overharvesting.
By prioritizing a mix of threatened canopy species, nitrogen fixing pioneers and livelihood supporting trees, APAPE ensures that restoration plots are both ecologically functional and socially relevant.
From seed bank to living forest
Seeds conserved in the bank are used to supply local nurseries that produce seedlings for degraded hillsides, riparian corridors and community forest areas. Species selection is guided by ecological suitability, conservation status and local demand.
Restoration plots established with these seedlings stabilize soils, reduce erosion into Lake Albert and rebuild habitat connectivity. Over time, mixed species plantings increase structural diversity and create microhabitats for birds, pollinators and small mammals.
The seed bank also improves technical knowledge. Germination rates, storage performance and field survival are monitored, generating locally grounded propagation protocols for priority species. This practical data feeds back into improved collection and storage strategies.
Environmental Defenders’ grantmaking approach
APAPE’s work is supported through Environmental Defenders’ grantmaking program, which invests in frontline community organizations across the Congo Basin and Albertine region.
Our approach recognizes that habitat protection and deforestation prevention must be paired with practical tools for restoration. By funding seed banks, nurseries and community training, we help build the infrastructure required for durable ecological recovery.
Strengthening seed systems is foundational. Without reliable access to diverse native seed, restoration commitments remain aspirational. By supporting APAPE to secure and manage indigenous seed resources, we are helping ensure that restoration investments translate into resilient, biodiverse forests.
Long term impact for biodiversity and livelihoods
The benefits of APAPE’s seed bank extend beyond immediate planting seasons.
For biodiversity, conserving seeds of Vulnerable timber species such as Khaya anthotheca and Entandrophragma species safeguards genetic resources that might otherwise disappear from fragmented landscapes.
For climate, diverse native forests sequester carbon and improve resilience to temperature and rainfall variability.
For communities, seed collection and nursery management create employment and strengthen stewardship over remaining forest patches. Women’s participation in seed collection and shea related value chains strengthens economic inclusion.
For governance, collaboration between community groups, local authorities and conservation organizations builds trust and shared responsibility for landscape recovery.
A model for the Albertine Rift
The seed bottleneck identified across restoration landscapes in Africa, Asia and Latin America is visible on the Lendu Plateau. APAPE’s response offers a replicable model.
By integrating ex situ conservation with in situ restoration and community enterprise, the native seed bank anchors restoration in science, local knowledge, and long term planning. It demonstrates that effective restoration begins not with planting, but with securing the right seed.
On the hills above Lake Albert, the work is quiet but transformative. Each carefully stored seed represents the potential for a future forest.
