Gallery forests lining rivers, such as those along the Likouala-aux-Herbes River in the Lac Télé Community Reserve, help protect riverbanks from erosion while providing habitats and breeding grounds for many bird species, including the Purple Heron and African Darter.
But these forests are threatened by bushfires, which can degrade them and disrupt ecosystems that support more than 300 other species identified in the Reserve, as well as the communities living along the rivers.
To address this threat, the Lake Télé Community Reserve teams have launched a pilot restoration project. Nearly 3 hectares are being progressively restored with native tree species, combining scientific expertise with the knowledge of local communities.