For the past 17 years WCS-Congo has been assisting the Ministry of Forestry Economy (MEF) in managing wildlife and its habitat in national parks, reserves, and buffer zones in the Republic of Congo. This year, WCS and the Ministry of Forestry have formalized this partnership by signing 5 protocoles. The protected area protocoles include Nouabale Ndoki National Park, Lac Tele Community Reserve, and Conkouati-Douli National Park. These protocoles define the roles of each partner in assuring that the protected areas are managed to international standards. WCS and MEF have also partnered with the private sector in logging concessions adjacent to Nouabale Ndoki and Odzala-Kokua National Parks in an effort to reduce the impact of exploitation on wildlife.