 The vast forests of central Africa contain one of the greatest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet. But rapid population growth in cities and towns such as Kisangani and Yangambi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is putting ever greater pressure on this once impenetrable wilderness. Forest products supply the city via the Congo River from an area 100 kilometres to the west. A place of high historical value, Yangambi was once home to the largest tropical agriculture research centre in the world. It hosts a magnificent library with more than 30,000 books and a herbarium with 150,000 specimens, the largest collection in Africa. However, years of underfunding and political instability have taken their toll and only a fraction of the work that used to be carried out in the station is still possible today. The landscape of Yangambi spanning both the right and left banks of the Congo River now includes a biosphere reserve which includes 250,000 hectares of tropical forest, a valuable island of conservation in a fast changing landscape. But with around 100,000 people living in this landscape, many with limited economic opportunities, protecting the forest means overcoming a number of complex challenges. This is why C4, with the support of international and local partners, launched the Foray Project. Funded by the European Union, it aims to protect the biodiversity of Yangambi, while at the same time supporting revenue-generating activities aimed at improving the living conditions of the local population. We are going to plan a series of activities, be it in the framework of the population, the distribution of specimens and other alternatives that are in the sense of developing the environment, the well-being of the population to preserve the biodiversity. Agriculture is one of the main drivers of deforestation in Yangambi. Common techniques used by local farmers have low crop yields and clear forested areas. Another issue is charcoal and firewood production, the main sources of energy for cooking in the area. This is why Foray is working to introduce agroforestry techniques to make agriculture more sustainable and to improve existing value chains of commodities such as charcoal, timber and wild meat. The project is also regenerating previously deforested areas and creating dedicated plantations for wood fuel and renewable energy alternatives. Traditionally, wild meat is an important source of food and income in the region, but as tree cover is removed, the area is suitable for hunting, fragment and disappear. In recent years, hunters have found it increasingly difficult to find enough game to make a living and provide for their family, showing just how far animal numbers have fallen. But when given the chance, important species can quickly return. A recent camera trap survey confirmed the presence of chimpanzees in the area for the first time in decades. To address this, Foray is working with local communities in conservation efforts and to increase the alternatives to wild meat to ensure their food security. Yangambi's forests are made up of thousands of tree species. One of the most important is Afromosia, a golden hardwood long valued for its appearance and durability. Foray is working to develop a more sustainable logging sector as well as producing relevant research on how to preserve and regenerate the local flora and fauna. And to continue the legacy of Yangambi as a centre for learning, the Foray project is training the next generation of Congolese forest experts. In partnership with the University of Kisangani, C4 supports Masters and PhD students focusing on how to best manage existing forest resources and forest-dependent livelihoods. Together, working with the people of Yangambi, we can ensure that the forests continue to thrive for generations to come.