The idea that Kimbesa, who recently graduated from the nearby University of Kisangani, might be an important contributor to this research once seemed inconceivable. The DRC, where more than half of the Congo Basin rainforest lies, still suffers from deep poverty and a history of colonial exploitation, dictatorship, and conflicts that have both held back the development of a solid university system and restricted employment and resources for local scientists.

But as the ecological significance of the region has become more apparent, it has drawn increased attention from global conservation groups such as the Center for International Forestry Research, which has teamed with governments and universities to invest millions in infrastructure, technology, and training of researchers. Since 2005, the number of postgraduates in forestry has grown from just six to more than 300. Today this new vanguard of Congolese scientists is striving to understand one of the most massive and understudied ecosystems on our planet, at a time when it’s needed most.