Rene Ngongo

Excerpt from the citation for the award:

"...for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use."  

The Congo rainforest, in global importance second only to that of the Amazon, is under grave threat from the aftermath of war, population pressure and corporate exploitation. Since 1994, including through the civil war from 1996-2002, René Ngongo has engaged, at great personal risk, in popular campaigning, political advocacy and practical initiatives to confront the destroyers of the rainforest and help create the political conditions that could halt its destruction and bring about its conservation and sustainable use.