— About

A simple belief: reforestation can only succeed if it provides a livelihood for the people who carry it out.

Faja Lobi is a development NGO registered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has been active in Idiofa for several years. We carry out reforestation and agroforestry programs that protect ecosystems while generating sustainable income for local communities. FAJA LOBI has a partner nonprofit organization in Belgium, IDIOFA LOBI, which owns FAJA LOBI Café in Ghent (Vlaanderenstraat 2, www.fajalobi.be).

— Our Journey

A journey from Ghent to Idiofa.

Training

Urban Planner and Landscape Architect in Ghent

A former urban planner for the City of Ghent, he trained in forestry to combine the discipline of the profession with his passion for planting sustainable forests.

2011 — The Turning Point

Facility in Idiofa

After witnessing deforestation in the DRC during a trip with his two Congolese-Belgian godchildren to visit their grandparents, Jurgen committed himself to reforestation efforts in the Congo.

2011 → 2013

The Birth of Faja Lobi

Launched in 2012, the NGO began by experimenting and learning on a medium scale, primarily using its own funds. After adopting new bylaws in 2019 (and obtaining legal status in 2023), it went on to carry out large-scale reforestation and development efforts under Jurgen’s leadership.

2013 → 2023

Two entities, one project

In the DRC

Faja Lobi NGO

Registered in Idiofa in 2013, renewed in 2019. It is this organization that carries out operations in the field.

In Belgium

Idiofa Lobi vzw

Based in Ghent. Governance and tax-deductible donations in Belgium.

2019 — Acceleration

New Statutes and Larger Plantation Areas in Idiofa

2020 — Resilience

A Slowdown, Then a Rebound in Planting

Local Infrastructure

Hospitals, workshops, internet cafes: Building Beyond the Trees

Transmission

Schools from Idiofa Visit the Reforestation Site

Students from schools in Idiofa visit the reforestation site

October 2026

Broadcast of the Ter Zake documentary on VRT

2027 — And then

Nearly 6,000 ha remain to reach the goal of 16,000 ha of reforested land

Areas in the Highlands Still to Be Reforested

Today

A project rooted in the community

A strengthened local team, growing agroforestry initiatives, and a community that supports the project.

— Our Mission

Protect, restore, strengthen.

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Faja Lobi aims to protect, conserve, and restore the DRC’s natural areas, resources, and habitats for the benefit of local communities and climate stability. These three official commitments are put into practice every day through four pillars of action.

See the 4 pillars of action →

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration

To protect, conserve, and restore natural areas, resources, and habitats, as well as animal and plant species, in the vicinity of Idiofa.

Local nurseries and long-term monitoring of plantings

Priority is given to degraded areas, which are the least suitable for local agriculture

Sustainable Development and Rehabilitation

Rehabilitate basic socioeconomic infrastructure (education, health, transportation) and support community markets: agricultural markets, value-added products, and income-generating activities.

Agroforestry, fish farming, and beekeeping as sources of income; vegetable farming; livestock raising

Renovation of local markets, schools, and processing facilities, as well as a training center and university development program for the School of Forestry, in partnership with UNIKIK

Strengthening

Build the capacity of local communities and organizations to ensure that on-the-ground initiatives are sustainably embedded.

Technical training provided directly in the field

Prioritizing local jobs at every stage of the projects

— Team & Governance

The people who carry out the project on a daily basis

A small team based between Belgium and Idiofa, with a strong presence on the ground: local teams manage the majority of operations.

Jurgen Heytens

Founder & President, Chief Operating Officer

An urban planner and landscape architect from Ghent who has been working full-time on the project since 2019.

Zacky Madilo

Secretary General, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer

Economist, Ph.D., originally from Idiofa.

Eveline Maertens

Strategic Advisor

CFO at ARDO.

Lieve Van der Schueren

Entrepreneurship Advisor

Instructor at VIVES Hogeschool.

Professor Gaius Elenga Bolumbu Entanga

Environmental and Wildlife Consultant

Lecturer and researcher at the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN).

Patrick Rueyres

Technical Director of Industrialization

Engineer at Sidenergie (sustainable bioenergy).

Professor Honoré Belesi Katula

Biodiversity Consultant

Professor of Environmental Science and Forest Ecology at UNIKIN.

← Swipe to meet the team →

— Geographic Focus

Idiofa, Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Idiofa

Kwilu Province

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Contact Information

4°58′S 19°36′E

Province

Kwilu, DRC

Distance from Kinshasa

≈ 700 km by road

Ecosystem

Congo Basin

Reforested area

10,240 ha since 2012

Planted Areas

9 areas in Idiofa

See our work in the field →

— Governance

A transparent, registered, and regulated organization

The project is based on two entities: an NGO incorporated under Congolese law, registered in Idiofa, which carries out field operations; and a nonprofit organization incorporated under Belgian law, Idiofa Lobi vzw, based in Ghent, which is responsible for fundraising and governance.

Financial statements published annually in the annual report, along with an audit report

A board of directors composed of Belgian and Congolese members, and a community assembly bringing together members of the communities

Operational management in Idiofa, governance in Ghent

Profile

Founded in

2012, by Jurgen Heytens

Board of Directors

Jurgen Heytens and Zacky Madilo

In the DRC

Status

NGOs, environmental sector

Statutory Members