More than seventy years after its official classification by presidential decree no. 52/137 of May 2, 1952, one question remains: why does the Nyamusisi Nature Reserve still struggle to effectively protect the blue monkeys of Schoutedeni?
In the Bulolero area of the reserve on Idjwi Island, these primates, endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, face multiple threats. Human pressures, dwindling food resources, and weak protection mechanisms jeopardize their survival. Without increased involvement from authorities and conservation partners, these monkeys could disappear, even though they represent an asset for the development of national tourism.
Covering 5,000 hectares and home to more than 53 individuals according to local estimates, the reserve constitutes their last known refuge. Yet, despite its legal status, the progressive loss of their habitat and the food crisis are jeopardizing their biological balance.
Human-induced pressures: insufficient protection?
Akili Nestor, representative of the river peoples, explains that destructive human activities remain frequent: deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture and artisanal logging.
“Due to a lack of other uses, local residents are exploiting the reserve for agriculture and the manufacture of traditional objects ,” he says.
He acknowledges, however, that existing alternative projects remain insufficient and do not benefit everyone.
On the administrative side, Dunia Zirimwagabo Charles, Executive Secretary of the Ntambuka chiefdom, mentions the exploitation of charcoal from the reserve, sold particularly in Bukavu and Goma. He emphasizes the lack of logistical resources to ensure effective control, especially during the rainy season.
These findings raise a question: is the protected status of the reserve actually being applied on the ground?
A food crisis revealing an ecological imbalance
According to Arnold Bisimwa Ngabo, director of the reserve, the blue monkeys suffer from a deficiency in endogenous plant species necessary for their diet.
“Lacking their natural food sources, they resort to crops like corn or sweet potatoes ,” he laments.
He advocates for reforestation with local species, enhanced ecological monitoring and the implementation of income-generating activities to reduce the pressure exerted by riverside communities.
In the book ”Biodiversity of the Idjwi-Nyamusisi Nature Reserve and its surroundings”, it is mentioned that 32.35% of the monkeys observed occupied “Apes trees”, planted as part of ecological restoration initiatives.
A local investigation also indicates that some monkeys leave Bulolero to travel more than five kilometers in search of food, thus increasing their vulnerability.
Law enforcement: a persistent challenge
Provincial authorities claim to be developing a simple management plan to guide community conservation efforts. An environmental law specialist points out that Congolese legislation provides for sentences of one to three years of penal servitude as well as fines for environmental offenses. It remains to be seen whether these provisions are being rigorously enforced.
A still largely untapped tourism potential
Despite these challenges, blue monkeys represent a unique biodiversity that could attract researchers and tourists. For those involved in the sector, their protection could foster sustainable community-based tourism and contribute to economic diversification.
But this opportunity can only materialize if the reserve succeeds in effectively ensuring the protection of its emblematic species.
Maguy Bapolisi originally published this article as part of Environmental Journalism Grants 2025.