From July 1st to 4th, 2025, the Regional Postgraduate Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT) took part in a hands-on workshop in Yangambi focused on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The training centered on harnessing data from satellite imagery and drones to support better management of tropical ecosystems.

Organized by UNESCO under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, the workshop is part of the second phase of a project funded by the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) of the Kingdom of Belgium. The project aims to transform the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve into a regional center of excellence for biodiversity conservation and climate action.

The workshop was designed to equip reserve managers and technical partners with practical skills in geospatial data collection and analysis, vegetation and biodiversity monitoring through mapping, and the assessment of forest cover degradation to support evidence-based decision-making. Participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions, covering the fundamentals of GIS, the use of geospatial technologies, drone programming and piloting, as well as data processing from drone and satellite imagery.

ERAIFT welcomes this valuable initiative, which significantly strengthens local capacity for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The institution extends its sincere thanks to the Kingdom of Belgium, through the DGD, for funding this second phase of the project, and to UNESCO for its technical and operational support. ERAIFT also expresses its appreciation to all partners committed to safeguarding the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve — a flagship site for sustainable development in the heart of the Congo Basin.