Land issues and agricultural transformations play a central role in territorial dynamics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country has considerable agricultural potential, with approximately 80 million hectares of arable land, but this potential remains largely untapped for the benefit of the population. A large portion of the population depends directly on the land for its livelihood, making land and agricultural transformations particularly sensitive issues. In many regions, pressures from mining, forestry, and agricultural concessions are redefining access to land and land use. The Congolese land tenure system is characterized by the coexistence of state law and customary regulations, which creates legal uncertainty and conflicts over land use. These tensions particularly affect rural communities, women, and socially marginalized groups.
EcoAct-Congo conducts research on land policies, land-use conflicts, and agricultural transformations. The network analyzes the interactions between extractive concessions, agricultural dynamics, and customary regulations, as well as their effects on rural communities. Our work also documents the human impacts of land-use changes, including food insecurity, population displacement, and inequalities in access to resources. By producing empirical and institutional analyses, EcoAct-Congo contributes to debates on land reforms and agricultural policies that can strengthen food security while preserving ecosystems.
EcoAct-Congo analyzes land tenure and agriculture through a territorial approach that focuses on the relationships between land tenure regimes, agrarian systems, public policies, and ecological transformations. The network examines how economic investments, resource extraction projects, and land policies are reshaping territorial balances.
Our approach pays particular attention to land security, customary rights, and the forms of inequality that shape access to land. EcoAct-Congo also focuses on the links between ecological transformations, agricultural productivity, and food security, analyzing how environmental dynamics influence agricultural systems and the living conditions of rural populations.
| Project on Development Corridors in the DRC | Read More |
| Project on Agricultural Policies and Rural Transformation in the DRC | Read More |
| Anthropocene | Read More |