Léonard Eo Email & Phone Number

Itombwe, Democratic Republic Of Congo

I was born in Itombwe Mountains of DR Congo and I am a direct descendant of the area’s native people and culture. I used to be a famous hunter of the village. I started my conservation career as a student in Environment Management in 2002, at the Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural, ISDR/Bukavu (DRC). Since then, I live close to the forests in Itombwe Mountains, working with local communities on wildlife conservation by mixing my local knowledge with more formal knowledge gained at university. I am currently a Founder and Director of the Itombwe Génération pour l’Humanité (IGH) — the only and largest local organization in Itombwe Mountains that save wildlife and wild places here. Some of the largest, current projects in the region include the capacity building of the local people to be able to better conserve their natural resources; routine foot patrols in the Mwana Valley of Itombwe Nature Reserve to give protection to the wildlife found there; and the ongoing Gorilla Monitoring Scheme.

Democratic Republic Of The Congo

I am an environmental consultant, a position that sees me acting as biodiversity conservation technical adviser. In 2014-2016, for example, I worked with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in DR Congo on the participatory mapping of the Mwana Valley in Itombwe Nature Reserve. I assisted local communities in promoting sustainable management of their natural resources, through (i) land use planning and demarcation of wildlife conservation areas, (ii) establishment of Local Natural Resource Management Committees, and (iii) elaboration of a code of conduct regulating natural resources management and conservation in the Mwana Valley. In 2005, 2008 and 2009, I assisted an Indigenous organization (CAMV) in DR Congo with educating Indigenous people how to claim their right on traditional land and also how to protect their traditional resources. In 2010- 2011, I worked with another organization (called FEPADE) in DR Congo on the planning, management and monitoring of several projects related to environment conservation and climate change mitigation.

Bachelor, Environment Management And Sustainable Development

Bachelor, Environment Management And Sustainable Development