As a staff member of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Democratic Republic of Congo program, Corneille Ewango was responsible for the Okapi Faunal Reserve’s botany program from 1996 to 2003. He helped lead the effort to protect and preserve the Okapi Reserve through nearly a decade of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Amid the violence and chaos of the Congolese civil war that lasted from 1998 to 2003, Corneille risked his life by secretly transmitting vital information to the United Nations and UNESCO about rebel activities threatening both people and wildlife. Thanks to his remarkable courage and leadership, the ecological integrity of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (previously named the Okapi Faunal Reserve) was preserved.
Corneille’s scientific work has been equally impactful. His research on hundreds of tree and liana species has significantly deepened our understanding of Central Africa’s rainforests and guided sustainable forest management strategies. Through his efforts, conservation in the Congo Basin became not just a mission of protection but also one of education and empowerment for local communities.
Background
Raised in a village where poaching was a way of life, Corneille was expected to follow in those footsteps. But his path changed when he gained access to formal education. Initially aiming to study medicine, Corneille enrolled in biology while awaiting his acceptance into medical school. After three years, he had become so passionate about the natural world—particularly the flora of his native Ituri Forest—that he decided to dedicate his life to conservation.
From 1996 to 2003, Corneille served with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature and the Wildlife Conservation Society as the head of the Okapi Faunal Reserve’s botany programme. The reserve, located in the Ituri Forest, is home to over 13 primate species, elephants, and the elusive okapi—a rare animal also known as forest giraffe or zebra giraffe, found only in the DRC. It also supports the Mbuti people, an Indigenous group whose knowledge and survival are intricately linked to the forest ecosystem.
Despite widespread political instability, economic hardship, and violent conflict, Corneille remained at the reserve when many others fled. With the help of local communities and junior staff, he protected wildlife, preserved critical scientific data, and confronted armed rebels to stop illegal activities. He hid in the forest for three months to evade capture and saved the herbarium collection and valuable research data.
His bravery not only safeguarded biodiversity but inspired hope among local communities devastated by war. Corneille’s work was later recognised globally: he received a scholarship for a master’s degree in tropical botany at the University of Missouri, delivered a TED talk in 2007, and earned his PhD from Wageningen University in 2010, focusing on the ecology of lianas in Central Africa.
Post-war, Corneille became the director of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. He also belongs to a group that was designated by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) to develop an ecosystem management plan for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Vision and Approach
Corneille’s conservation philosophy centres around the deep interconnection between biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, and scientific research. He believes that preserving Africa’s rainforests requires empowering local communities and combining traditional wisdom with rigorous science.
At the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, he led scientific fieldwork during times of war—mapping forest plots and identifying over 600 tree species and 270 species of lianas. By highlighting the region’s exceptional botanical richness, Corneille laid a foundation for more informed and resilient conservation strategies.
Through communication with international organisations and grassroots mobilisation, he not only protected vital ecosystems but also transformed the reserve into a symbol of resistance and hope.
“People sometimes act out of ignorance. I did so myself. If I had known – when I was young – that by killing an elephant I was destroying biodiversity, I would not have done it. That’s why I’m now working with universities to fill the need for training more local experts and overall capacity building initiatives for the young generation, for a better future for Africa’s tomorrow.”
Corneille Ewango
Impact of the Future For Nature Award
The Future For Nature Award enabled Corneille to unite his passion for botany with wildlife conservation by studying plant species essential to the survival of key animal species in the Ituri Forest.
With FFN’s financial support, Corneille continued to champion the knowledge and well-being of the Indigenous Mbuti and Efe communities by documenting useful plant species for Flore d’Afrique Centrale, a comprehensive reference for Central African vascular plants.
The Future For Nature Award contributed to the expansion of the herbarium at the Okapi Faunal Reserve, enabling it to grow into a thriving training and research centre in tropical botany that attracts young Congolese botanists and nurtures the next generation of conservation leaders.
Moving Forward
Corneille Ewango continues to be a leading voice for tropical forest conservation in Africa and beyond. As a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Congo Basin Science Initiative, he works to strengthen the role of science in shaping conservation policies across the region. He collaborates with universities and capacity-building programmes to mentor emerging researchers and conservationists, believing that lasting change depends on empowering local talent.
His legacy extends beyond his academic and field contributions. Corneille’s journey—from a poacher’s apprentice to an internationally acclaimed conservationist—remains a powerful example of personal transformation, resilience, and dedication to nature.
"Corneille is especially impressive in covering all species, from the charismatic mega-fauna through to the plants of DR Congo. His courage in staying in the field during a time of war to continue protecting valuable species is a true inspiration. His focus on training others and sticking to projects in the long term are essential if conservation in central Africa is to have a future."
Mr. Simon Stuart, International Selection Committee
