Lessons from Philippine Mangroves: Floods, Erosion, and Human Choices in the DRC
When I compare the Restoring Hope Through Mangroves case from the Philippines with the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I see both similarities and differences in climate‑related hazards and how communities respond. In DR Congo, common dangers include heavy and unpredictable rainfall, flooding, and soil erosion, and these are often made worse by human behavior and weak governance. Many people build houses on hillsides, near rivers, or in flood‑prone areas despite warnings not to buy land there, and enforcement of land rules is weak — some officials accept bribes and allow construction in risky zones without considering long‑term impacts. When people build on hills and others build right below them, heavy rains naturally run downhill and cause flooding, erosion, and sometimes structural collapses. Real events illustrate these challenges clearly: in April 2025, torrential rains caused rivers like the Ndjili to overflow in Kinshasa, killing dozens of people, displacing many families, and flooding thousands of homes as the city’s drainage systems were overwhelmed and informal settlements were submerged; this tragedy highlighted the effects of rapid unplanned expansion and blocked drains in low‑lying and hillside neighborhoods. Around the same period in May 2025, heavy rains in South Kivu’s Fizi territory caused rivers to burst their banks, killing over a hundred people and destroying houses as floodwaters rushed through communities weakened by deforestation and poor landscape management. These hazards hit low‑income households, informal settlements, and farmers the hardest because they rely on vulnerable land and have limited resources. In response, local communities and NGOs in places like Kinshasa and eastern provinces are promoting tree planting, soil and water conservation, reforestation, and better farming practices to reduce risk, similar to the mangrove restoration in the Philippines. However, because land rules are poorly enforced and government support can be limited, community‑led adaptation and nature‑based solutions are essential for building resilience and protecting people from the worsening impacts of climate change.