By: Samuel Mboh, Program Specialist for West and Central Africa, Cadasta
The Congo Basin is one of the world’s most critical carbon sinks—and one of the most threatened. As global climate discussions increasingly emphasize the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in protecting forests, the Basin stands at the center of international attention. Yet one foundational challenge persists: fragmented and inconsistent land and resource data continue to limit community visibility and influence on decisions that directly impact their territories.
Against this backdrop, in late 2025, Cadasta joined regional partners—including REPALEAC, CARITAS, Rainforest UK, Tenure Facility, FAO, and others—for a convening focused on strengthening tenure security across Central Africa. The gathering brought together organizations working on land and resource rights with one shared purpose: align efforts, prevent duplication, and build a stronger, more coordinated landscape for tenure data across the Congo Basin.
The Power of Working Together
Across the region, Indigenous and community organizations are leading efforts to document customary lands, secure recognition, and defend forests. But as more groups begin mapping land and resource use, the risk of overlap grows—and with it, the potential for confusion, conflicting information, and lost opportunities.
Across the Congo Basin, countless efforts are being made to advance community land rights, but lasting impact will only come through unity of purpose. Our mission at Cadasta is to help communities achieve genuine tenure security and the full benefits that flow from it. An objective made even more urgent by the accelerating threats of deforestation and climate change. This is why aligning our work with REPALEAC is not optional; it is essential. REPALEAC’s deep local knowledge, and connection to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities provide the guidance needed to direct limited resources where they matter most for greatest impact. When technical partners, NGOs, and community networks move together under a shared vision, the Congo Basin’s communities finally begin to see the durable change they deserve.
Cadasta’s Role: A Trusted Technical Leader in the Basin
Cadasta’s position in this ecosystem is both technical and strategic. Through our recent work with ANAPAC DRC at the Gabon workshop on Harmonizing GIS Data and our ongoing partnership with RRI, our team has cleaned, harmonized, and analyzed geospatial data from more than 30 REPALEAC member organizations. Few actors in the region hold this level of basin-wide visibility into tenure-related data.
This experience has put Cadasta at the forefront of a crucial shift. As funders, policymakers, and climate actors increasingly rely on credible community-generated data, Cadasta’s proactive engagement and technical contributions are helping set standards, build trust, and guide decision-making.
Why This Matters for Climate Action
Global climate goals depend on the stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Yet without secure rights—and the data to support them—communities cannot meaningfully participate in or benefit from climate finance, forest protection programs, or national policy reforms.
The Congo Basin convening made one thing clear: tenure security is climate security.
Cadasta is committed to working alongside REPALEAC and partners to ensure that communities not only map their lands, but also shape the decisions that determine their future.