The Salonga Conservation Initiative, Inc. (SCI) is a US-based, non-profit organization founded in 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

SCI’s mission is to support holistic conservation projects and biodiversity initiatives related to preserving the rainforest ecosystem of the Salonga National Park and landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  The Salonga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Africa’s largest tropical rainforest park, harbors the world’s largest population of bonobos, a great ape endemic to the DRC.  Although greatly diminished, the park still has the largest forest elephant population in DRC.  And finally, the Salonga sustains millions of people that depend on its generation of fresh water and fisheries originating within its boundaries.  Preservation of Salonga’s natural integrity depends on understanding the dynamic relationship between forests, water, wildlife and humankind.

Despite its great size and importance, few people have ever heard of the Salonga National Park, and the park has received relatively little attention as compared to other World Heritage Sites in DRC.  Hence, its development and financial support has lagged that of better-known sites.  One of SCI’s greatest challenges therefore is to enhance public awareness of the Salonga National Park as a reserve of global importance and meritorious of international support.