Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Terrestrial and freshwater wildlife in the Congo Basin provide crucial ecosystem services, food, medicine, and income, for millions of rural and urban communities. However, unsustainable hunting and fishing have caused significant ecological disruptions, including population declines and altered species composition, threatening biodiversity and livelihoods. Despite political and scientific efforts, overharvesting continues, driven largely by persistent poverty, limited protein and income alternatives, and rising demand fueled by population growth, urbanization, and migration. Modern technology and improved transport have shifted practices from subsistence to commercial exploitation, increasing pressure on wildlife. Traditional resource governance, weakened since colonial times, struggles to regulate use, while conflicts exacerbate wildlife exploitation through displacement and increased firearm availability. Meanwhile, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and mining pollution further degrade ecosystems and complicate sustainable management.</jats:p> <jats:p>In response, Congo Basin countries have made strides toward more sustainable wildlife management. There is a clear shift from exclusionary, militarized conservation to community-based wildlife management (CBWM), empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities by integrating traditional knowledge with modern practices. Efforts have evolved from expert-driven solutions to community-focused, nature-based businesses, alongside campaigns to reduce wildmeat consumption in urban areas. National recognition of hunting and fisheries’ roles in poverty alleviation has increased, prompting policy reforms to formalize these sectors and improve regulation under initiatives such as the Sustainable Wildlife Management program and the Central African Regional Program for the Environment. Additionally, countries are adopting biodiversity-positive practices in logging and mining sectors through certification schemes and legal reforms, though challenges remain in scaling these measures.</jats:p> <jats:p>Financially, although some steps have been taken recently, there is a need for a more meaningful transition toward innovative finance mechanisms to support sustainable wildlife management and to explore the development of wildlife-based economies. Initiatives such as the BIOFIN program, the Central Africa Forest Initiative, and the High Integrity Forest Finance Initiative are fostering investment, policy dialogue, and sustainable funding models to ensure wildlife and community well-being in the Congo Basin’s future.</jats:p>