Documentation and Resources

Knowledge dissemination is an important aspect of the PilotMAB project. It is undoubtedly a prime driver for the research on the natural biosphere and its management. In order to take part in this dissemination, it is our goal to provide diverse information and data on this website.

We are currently working to collect and present information on the Congo Basin biosphere in the shape of articles, presentations, as well as an ecological atlas. The atlas will feature data relative to the phenology, growth dynamics, and traits of multiple tree species representative of the Congo Basin.

Multimedia Description

A wood laboratory in the earth of the Congo Basin.

In this video, learn about the wood biology laboratory of Yangambi. The laboratory has been built with the support of the FORETS project and in collaboration with the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren).

Yangambi Biosphere Reserve: more than 30 years of research.

Watch Yangambi Biosphere Reserve’s story to find out how a PhD student is carrying out research on Afromosia, an endangered tree species, showing how the biosphere reserve has been a field for various research projects in the past 30 years. Learn more about Yangambi Biosphere Reserve here.

Luki Biosphere Reserve shares solutions for carbon capture and sustainable development (UNESCO).

An overview of the Luki Biosphere Reserve and it's key status as a living laboratory of the rainforest's dynamics in the Congo Basin. Learn more about Luki Biosphere Reserve here.

You will find here a tool designed to differentiate tree species based on their wood anatomy. The visual identification key presents 70 commercial species from the DRC, which are characterized based on 22 macroscopic and microscopic anatomical features called “descriptors”. The illustrated key allows the user to compare the visual attributes of a sample with reference images. Each descriptor can have multiple “states” reflecting the diversity of anatomical attributes across the various species. Selecting matching states with a sample allows to narrow down the list of possible corresponding species.

The key was developed based on the characteristic anatomical features defined on the IAWA’s Inside Wood database for these species. It should be noted that in its current version, the key is only available in French to facilitate its use as a didactical tool in the DRC. It was made as an easy-access tool that can be used by scientists as well as anyone else with a keen eye and a desire to identify a wood sample. In order to allow its use in the field or in places with variable internet accessibility, the key can be downloaded and used offline. Instructions and compressed files can be downloaded here.

The atlas is currently in development and will be featured here as soon as it becomes available.

This section features policy briefs. These documents are meant to help integrating environmental concerns into political considerations, by highlighting crucial scientific outputs and findings.