International Day of Chimpanzees

???? World Chimpanzee Day – July 14

On the occasion of World Chimpanzee Day on July 14, CBCS-Network and its partners reaffirm their unwavering commitment to conserving the biodiversity of the Congo Basin, protecting forests, and defending the rights of the communities who serve as guardians of nature.

Sharing more than 98% of our DNA, chimpanzees are our closest living relatives. They are not only iconic symbols of our wildlife but also vital ecological engineers. As major seed dispersers, they naturally regenerate the Congo Basin’s tropical forests, playing an essential role in maintaining the world's largest carbon sinks.

Unfortunately, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this extraordinary natural heritage is under serious threat. Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, chimpanzees face the rapid destruction of their habitats due to deforestation, slash-and-burn shifting agriculture, and artisanal mining.

For CBCS-Network, the solution is clear: protecting chimpanzees requires a new conservation model. That is why we connect biodiversity conservation with the transition to agroecology and the strengthening of community forests. Stabilizing agricultural production and restoring farmers' soils help prevent the continued encroachment into the natural habitats of these great apes.

Protecting chimpanzees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo means safeguarding our natural heritage, respecting the Indigenous knowledge of local and Indigenous communities, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

Together, let us transform our agricultural practices and protect the forests that chimpanzees call home.

#CBCS NETWORK