Dear GCE Community,

Despite freezing temperatures in North Carolina, Godi and Barbara, respectively Founder and Executive Director of GCE, were called to the river, where they connected with nature and were cleansed and refreshed by the sound of the rushing water from recent rains. As they arrived, they were greeted by the most magnificent heron, who majestically spread his wings, took flight, and seemed to offer a blessing of patience, good luck, and the ability to stand on our own and be stable. This powerful moment reminds us of the strength and stability we carry forward into the new year as a community.

We enter this new year with great hope and are nourished and sustained by your generous support.

With gratitude,

The GCE team in Chapel Hill, Brussels, and Mbandaka

Our Collective Impacts in 2024



Flood response 

After the worst flooding in the history of Equateur province devastated the 3 Lake Tumba communities in early 2024, GCE prioritized immediate responses and helped identify long-term needs:

• The GCE team in Mbandaka conducted a field mission to assess flood impact in the villages, identifying damages to homes, schools, sacred sites, and water pumps, as well as possible ways for strengthening household resilience.

• In addition, a joint mission with TRIAS and USAID later documented infrastructure damage in the Nkake community and initiated plans for rehabilitation of cocoa fields and storage facilities.

• GCE coordinated two field missions to distribute medical kits and clean water containers to prevent post-flood epidemics. With the help of local technicians, 8 of 14 damaged water pumps were repaired. Relocating these pumps to flood-resistant sites remains a priority as funding becomes available.



• To help address mid-term food security needs after flood-damaged fields, GCE supported the establishment of manioc (cassava) multiplication fields, producing pest-resistant cuttings for distribution across northern Local Community Forest Concessions (CFCLs).

Community Forestry & Sustainable Livelihoods



GCE’s efforts to support sustainable agriculture and value chain development have empowered local communities and fostered economic opportunities while helping protect their forests:

• In partnership with TRIAS, training sessions introduced rural innovation techniques and gender awareness, including gender-inclusive agricultural practices. These sessions enabled local CFCL leadership and community members to identify profitable and inclusive value chains in Ikoko-Bonginda, Ngelo-Monzoi (north of the lake), and Lokongo (south).

• Partnering with local producers yielded trainers from CFCL Nkake, who then helped the CFCL Lokongo initiate apiculture and cayenne pepper production in their community, despite logistical challenges in this remote area. We helped launch three farming schools in Iyumbu, Lokongo, and Iteke to further enhance cayenne pepper cultivation.

• The community of Nkake proudly showcased products including bananas, cayenne peppers, wild pepper, cacao, liana furniture, and honey at the Fair for Agroforestry Products from CFCLs of Equateur province - organized by RFUK and GASHE for the first time. These locally produced goods, a result of continuous support from GCE and TRIAS, garnered enthusiastic public attention and generated new market opportunities for community members.

• Through an exchange program in Kikwit (Kwilu province) organized by TRIAS to which GCE and farmers from Lake Tumba convened, community members shared best practices in agricultural entrepreneurship, with a focus on empowering women and youth.

• A joint mission with TRIAS and USAID evaluated the “Zamba na Biso” project in Nkake and the positive induced effect in neighboring Ikoko-Bonginda, celebrating its success notably in apiculture despite flood impacts on colonized beehives and local bee populations, and recommended its replication in other CFCLs.

Learning and Networking

In 2024, GCE strengthened its capacity to support local communities in advancing sustainable forest management and engaged actively with community forestry stakeholders:

• GCE participated in a provincial workshop in Equateur, supported by the US Forest Service, to assess the community forestry process in the province. Another workshop in Kinshasa, organized by GIZ and USAID, focused on strategies for addressing challenges in CFCLs transitioning from land security to sustainable management and economic viability.

• In Kindu, GCE attended a workshop that provided tools for conflict management and effective grievance resolution in the context of forest conservation and sustainable use.

• A learning forum in Kinshasa, organized by MEDD (Ministry of Environment), CAGDFT, and REPALEAC, with support from Tenure Facility, deepened understanding of conservation and market-based initiatives, fostering stronger support mechanisms for local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

Through these achievements, GCE has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to building community resilience, advancing sustainable livelihoods and conservation of the Congo Basin Rainforest and its biodiversity, and fostering collaboration with partners such as TRIAS and others. This year’s progress underscores the organization’s ability to drive impactful change, despite challenges and its small size.

Our work flourishes, because you stand with us and believe in us.

We wish you a New Year full of hope, abundance, and connection 🌍 

With deep gratitude, love, and respect from all of us at GCEarth,

and the Equateur Province Forest Communities of DR Congo



Go Conscious Earth

GCEarth.org