Conkouati-Douli National Park, the Republic of Congo’s (RoC) most biodiverse protected area, is facing unprecedented threats from oil exploration. Despite being legally designated to safeguard critical habitats, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local communities, the Congolese government has recently approved two controversial oil exploration blocks that together overlap more than half of the park’s terrestrial area and nearly 90% of its wetlands. These developments threaten to irreversibly damage one of Central Africa’s last intact tropical forest and coastal ecosystems, undermining both national legislation and international conservation commitments.

Covering over 8,000 km² of tropical forest, wetlands, mangroves, rivers, estuaries, and marine areas, Conkouati-Douli National Park is home to a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of global importance. It harbors significant populations of endangered wildlife, including an estimated 900 Western Lowland Gorillas, 7,000 Common Chimpanzees, and 900 African Forest Elephants, as well as the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin, whose small, shallow-water population is particularly vulnerable to disturbance. The park’s founding decree prohibits extractive activities in its core conservation zones and a 5 km buffer, allowing limited development only in designated eco-development zones that make up roughly one-third of its terrestrial area.

In February 2024, the government licensed the Conkouati oil block to the Chinese company China Oil Natural Gas Overseas Holding United, with 930 km² overlapping the park and 440 km² in its buffer zone. Less than 700 km² of this overlap lies in eco-development zones, raising significant legal and environmental concerns. In April 2025, the threat escalated when the Niambi oil block was approved, with 98% of its area overlapping the park. The Niambi permit was granted to ORIENTAL Energy with an 85% stake without public disclosure of an Environmental Impact Assessment, undermining transparency and due diligence.

Local communities are on the frontlines of these oil blocks which put the fishing, farming, and forest-based livelihoods of approximately 7,000 people at risk. Oil exploration risks polluting water sources, restricting access to traditional lands, and fragmenting habitats through road construction and other infrastructure. Civil society organizations have voiced strong opposition, calling for the immediate cancellation of oil permits within Conkouati-Douli National Park. Their calls have been ignored.

Oil development in Conkouati threatens to fragment intact forest corridors, increase poaching risk, introduce pollution, and accelerate biodiversity loss. These impacts would not only violate the park’s legal protections but also undermine the Republic of Congo’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and climate agreements made at COP28.

The report calls for urgent action:

1. Revoke oil permits overlapping Conkouati-Douli National Park and its buffer zones.
2. Uphold and enforce environmental laws to ensure protected areas remain free from extractive activities incompatible with their conservation goals.
3. Ensure transparent, inclusive decision-making, including full public disclosure of Environmental Impact Assessments and meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and civil society.

In a time of accelerating climate and biodiversity crises, the path forward for protected areas like Conkouati-Douli is clear: fossil fuel extraction must remain off-limits. Preserving this irreplaceable landscape is essential not only for the species and communities who depend on it, but also for safeguarding global ecological stability for generations to come.