John,

Huge swaths of Congo rainforest are being auctioned off for oil and gas drilling, threatening to rip open the world’s second-largest rainforest and destroy the only home of endangered bonobos.

Local partners are racing to create a 1.2 million-acre nature reserve in the heart of the Congo Basin – and we can help! 

The Lilungu forest connects a critical wildlife corridor for bonobos and other species, but with oil companies and developers swooping in and accelerating deforestation, locals worry this beautiful forest and all who live there won’t survive. But if enough of us chip in, we can help them secure official protection. 

$1 is enough to protect 1 acre – can you chip in now to help save bonobos and their forest home?

I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount

The lush Lilungu forest lies between the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve to the north and the Sankuru Nature Reserve to the south and links a critical wildlife corridor in a vital area of bonobo habitat. It's also home to the Balanga people who care deeply about protecting bonobos and preserving the precious forest that is their shared home.

For almost 20 years the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) and Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Foresterie (CREF) have worked together to establish cooperative conservation and community-led development programs. But their work is under increasing threat from out-of-control development, logging, mining, hunting, and wildlife trafficking. With the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo agreeing to auction off oil and gas blocks, the Congo rainforest and all living there need protection now more than ever.

Every $1 they receive is another acre of Lilungu forest that can be secured to create a magnificent nature reserve in the heart of the Congo rainforest, where local communities and endangered bonobos can live in harmony.

Local community leaders are ready to protect their forest – they just need funds to do it. Together we can multiply their impact and make the Lilungu Nature Reserve a safe haven for all who live there. And continue the fight to put nature and people over corporate profits. Can you chip in to help?

I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount

Your donation will help power Ekō and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the planet.