Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is facing significant challenges due to rapid urban expansion.

For over 130 years, the Jesuits have maintained major forested lands with a canopy towering over 30 meters on the hills above the city. However, this area, now considered part of Metro Kinshasa, is under threat as the population grows, reducing the forest cover to just 10% due to deforestation for charcoal production.

With a population of 20 million that has grown exponentially over the past 25 years, Kinshasa is the largest city in the DRC. Half of its residents are under the age of 22, adding to the complexity and urgency of addressing the challenges posed by rapid urbanization.

Université Loyola du Congo, a Jesuit institution with faculties in engineering, philosophy, agroecology, and soon social sciences and business, is located atop the hills to the south of Kinshasa. Rapid human occupation has led to severe erosion, threatening the university buildings as roads turn into rivers during the rainy season.

In response to these challenges, two significant programs have emerged. The first focuses on protecting the remaining forest and assisting tree regeneration on approximately 10 hectares of sloping land. Local trees, such as the African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla), and exotic species like Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis, are being planted to restore the forest cover. However, fires during the expanding dry season pose a constant threat.

Additionally, planting fruit trees is seen as crucial for providing local community benefits and creating value-added products for the student-run canteen. The African oil bean is a key indigenous species for the slopes.

Infrastructure challenges have also impacted the area, particularly the road leading to the university. The Jesuits successfully campaigned for government intervention to repair the road, which is essential for access to the university and services for approximately 60,000 residents in six neighborhoods. After securing the necessary filling material, the road was completed in 2023 using soil from Jesuit lands.

Despite extensive planting of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) to rehabilitate the extracted area, the grass has not thrived on the slopes due to the extended dry season. This led to a new project involving nature-based solutions with the city and national government, supported by the World Bank.

The second program aims to leverage the Jesuits' experience in forest regeneration, focusing on native and fruit trees to benefit local communities. Contour trenches are being dug every 10 to 15 meters to aid in rapid infiltration of heavy rain, which helps prevent erosion.

The long-term goal is to regenerate the landscape over the coming decades. Engaging the current generation of young people to adopt new attitudes toward the urban environment and address the climate crisis is essential for reducing negative local impacts.

Republished from EcoJesuit