The DRC Establishes a Center of Expertise in Botany

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached a milestone in the study and protection of its flora. On April 28 and 29, 2026, the capital hosted more than 70 specialists—botanists, taxonomists, technicians, and representatives from public and academic institutions—for the official launch of the Congolese Botany Expertise Center (CEBOC).

Organized as part of the B4Life program, funded by the European Union through its Global Gateway program and implemented by Agreco, the launch workshop aimed to formalize the creation of CEBOC as a national framework for coordinating botanical expertise. Several national and international institutions took part in the initiative and discussions, including: UNILU, UNIKIN, UNIKIS, UOB, the Meise Botanical Garden, CEBioS, the UNESCO Biodiversity Monitoring Center, ICCN, ERAIFT, and INERA, as well as numerous researchers and field practitioners.

The discussions highlighted both the exceptional richness of the DRC’s flora and the major challenges facing national botanical research: a shortage of taxonomists, the deteriorating condition of herbariums, the under-exploration of vast swaths of the country, and an urgent need for continuing education, particularly for field technicians. CEBOC positions itself as a collective and strategic response to strengthen scientific coordination, knowledge sovereignty, and the link between research, public policy, and local communities.

During the workshop, participants approved the center’s founding documents—bylaws, charter, and internal regulations—and established provisional governing bodies. The work also led to the identification of scientific and institutional priorities, as well as the development of a roadmap for the 2026–2027 period. This roadmap focuses in particular on training, taxonomy, floristic inventories, herbarium management, and the promotion of Congolese flora.

CEBOC is now entering a new phase: the practical implementation of this national initiative aimed at advancing the understanding, conservation, and sustainable management of Congo’s plant biodiversity.