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The project aims to protect and restore the Congo Nile Divide (CND) landscape in Rwanda, focusing on an area of 444,600 hectares. It addresses vulnerabilities to landslides, floods, and soil erosion caused by climate variability and deforestation. The strategy involves three main components: mainstreaming climate adaptation into land-use planning, restoring natural forests and creating ecological 'stepping stones' for biodiversity, and enhancing rural livelihoods through agroforestry, beekeeping, and the distribution of fuel-efficient cookstoves. The project seeks $39.06 million in GCF grants, with additional co-financing from the Rwandan government, to benefit over 1.25 million direct beneficiaries.

The document examines how migration into the Misotshi-Kabogo ecosystem in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is driving land conversion and the overexploitation of natural resources, threatening local species and traditional livelihoods.

The manual defines Conflict-Sensitive Conservation (CSC) as the programming and execution of conservation actions that account for the causes, actors, and impacts of conflict. It outlines a three-step organizational process: assessing institutional capacity, assigning human resources (such as a CSC Champion and Team), and adopting guiding principles. For field projects, it details a two-step operational process: conducting a conflict analysis using tools like conflict trees, conflict maps, and stakeholder profiles, and subsequently designing and monitoring CSC solutions. The guide emphasizes that conservation can either inadvertently fuel conflict—by restricting resource access or creating unequal benefit distribution—or support peace by addressing root causes of environmental degradation and fostering cooperation.

The 'Healing the Rift' project, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) with technical support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), piloted conflict-sensitive conservation (CSC) strategies in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Albertine Rift. The project focused on four sites: Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Itombwe Massif, and Misotshi-Kabogo. By utilizing conflict analysis, stakeholder dialogue, and participatory mapping, the project aimed to reduce illegal resource extraction and resolve disputes over protected area boundaries. Key successes included the establishment of monitoring committees for Lake Edward fisheries and the proactive community-supported design of the proposed Ngamika National Park. However, the report notes that long-term sustainability is threatened by persistent poverty, lack of alternative livelihoods for resource extractors, and ongoing insecurity.

The manual defines conflict-sensitive conservation (CSC) as programming that accounts for the causes, actors, and impacts of conflict to avoid exacerbating tensions and to support peace. It outlines a three-step institutional process for organizations to adopt CSC—assessing capacity, allocating human resources, and developing guiding principles—and a two-step project-level process involving conflict analysis and the design of sensitive solutions. The manual emphasizes that conservation can inadvertently fuel conflict by restricting resource access, imposing economic burdens, or distributing benefits unequally, but it can also foster peace by addressing root causes of resource scarcity and creating non-threatening spaces for dialogue.

The manual introduces 'Conflict-Sensitive Conservation' (CSC), a process designed for conservation organizations operating in or near protected areas, particularly in conflict-prone regions. It argues that while conservation can prevent conflict by managing scarce resources, poorly designed interventions—such as restricting resource access or unequal benefit distribution—can inadvertently trigger or fuel violence. The guide outlines a three-step institutional process to adopt CSC (assessing capacity, allocating human resources, and defining principles) and a two-step programmatic process (conflict analysis and the design/monitoring of solutions). It provides specific tools for analysis, including conflict trees, conflict mapping, and stakeholder profiling, and emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive approaches to peacebuilding.

The document examines the challenges faced by conservationists in the Albertine Rift, where high biodiversity coincides with intense social and political upheaval. It proposes the use of adaptive, conflict-sensitive approaches and analyzes seven specific conflict assessment tools to help practitioners understand conflict dynamics and minimize risks. The report also includes case studies on fishery restoration in Virunga National Park, community conservation in Kahuzi Biega National Park, and conservation management in Sierra Leone and the Peruvian Amazon.

The report analyzes the bidirectional relationship between biodiversity conservation and conflict in the Albertine Rift. It distinguishes between local-level conflicts directly caused by conservation interventions—such as restricted resource access and unequal benefit sharing—and regional armed conflicts driven by deep-rooted socio-economic and political factors. The document reviews several conflict-analysis methodologies, including 'Do No Harm' and 'Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment', to propose a multi-step framework for making conservation projects more conflict-sensitive throughout their project cycle.