Socio-Economic Impact of the Creation of Protected Areas on the Well-Being of the Riparian Population of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the Itombwe Nature Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo
The paper analyzes the socio-economic effects of the creation of Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve on the daily lives of riparian populations. It highlights negative impacts on household activities such as agriculture, hunting, firewood exploitation, and non-timber forest product collection. Key challenges include declining soil fertility, reduced agricultural yields, scarcity of resources, and human-wildlife conflicts. Efforts should be directed towards reducing these changes through the involvement of local populations in all the protected area conservation processes.
References
[1]
Matthieu, B.M., Stany, V., Rodrigue, A.B., Freddy, M., Nicole, B. and Serge, B.K. (2024) Characterisation of Human-Wildlife Conflicts around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Environmental Protection, 15, 343-356. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2024.153020
[2]
Inogwabini, B., Matungila, B., Mbende, L., Abokome, M. and Tshimanga, T.W. (2007) Great Apes in the Lake Tumba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo: Newly Described Populations. Oryx, 41, 532-538. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605307414120
[3]
Dounias, E. (2015) La forêt comme patrimoine culturel et cultuel. In: Mille, G. and Louppe, D., Eds., Memento du Forestier Tropical, Editions Quae, 1125-1129.
[4]
Ndione, P.D. (2014) Impacts de la foresterie industrielle sur les activités tradition-nelles autochtones en forêt tempérée mixte. Master’s Thesis, Université du Québec.
[5]
Gosal, S.S. and Wani, S.H. (2007) Biotechnologies of Crop Improvement, Volume 1: Cellular Approach. Springer, 226.
[6]
Dudley, N., Mansourian, S., Stolton, S. and Suksuwan, S. (2010) Do Protected Areas Contribute to Poverty Reduction? Biodiversity, 11, 5-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2010.9712658
[7]
Billé, R. and Pirard, R. (2007) La conservation de la biodiversité dans le cadre de l’aide au développement: Une synthèse critique. Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales, 27.
[8]
Forje, G.W. and Tchamba, M.N. (2022) Ecotourism Governance and Protected Areas Sustainability in Cameroon: The Case of Campo Ma’an National Park. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 4, Article ID: 100172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100172
[9]
Gadinga, W.F., Tchamba, N.M. and Eno-Nku, M. (2020) An Appraisal of Ecotourism Impact on Biodiversity Conservation: The Case of Campo Maan National Park, Cameroon. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 12, 142-152. https://doi.org/10.5897/ijbc2020.1420
[10]
Habiyaremye, F.M., Biringanine, E.M., Mubalama, L.K., and Masumbuko, C.N. (2022) Habitats of the Itombwe Nature Reserve (RD Congo): Understanding Their Status Using a Lexicon of Dominant Plants. 270 p. https://cebios.naturalsciences.be/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Lex6_final-INSIDE_2022-12-22_reduced_size-gecomprimeerd_compressed-1-1.pdf
[11]
Handley, G., Higgins, K., Sharma, B., Bird, K. and Cammack, D. (2009) Poverty and Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview of Key Issues. Overseas Development Institute, 75.
[12]
Gaétan, P. (2012) Tourism and National Parks: Impacts on Neighboring Communities—The Case of Tadoussac. Vertigo, 3. http://journals.openedition.org/vertigo/4134 https://doi.org/10.4000/vertigo.41341
[13]
Ngaryam, B. (2016) La problématique de gestion durable de la biodiversité au Tchad: Impacts des aires protégées sur les zones périphériques—Cas des parcs na-tionaux de manda et Sena Oura. Master’s Thesis, Université Paris 8.
[14]
Borrini-Feyerabend, G., Dudley, N., Jaeger, T., Lassen, B., Pathak Broome, N., Phillips, A. and Sandwith, T. (2014) Gouvernance des aires protégées: De la compréhension à l’action. Collection des lignes directrices sur les meilleures pratiques pour les aires protégées N˚20. IUCN, 114.
[15]
Rutebuka, E., Nsabimana, D. and Gross-Camp, N. (2012) Evaluation of Community-Based Conservation Around Protected Areas in Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park. The Student Conference on Conservation Science at American Museum of Natural History, New York, 9-12 October 2012, 8.
[16]
Barbault, R., Chevassus-au-Louis, B., Teyssèdre, A., Abbadie, L., Blandin, P., Cury, P., Génot, J.C., Guégan, J.F., Lateltin, E., Morand, S., Renaud, F., Trom-metter, M. and Weber, J. (2005) Biodiversité, sciences et gouvernance. Association pour la Diffusion de la Pensée Française, 244.
[17]
Morgan, D., Sanz, C., Greer, D., Rayden, T., Maisels, F. and Williamson, E.A. (2013) Les grands singes et le FSC: Mise en œuvre de pratiques d’exploitation favorables aux grands singes dans les concessions forestières en Afrique centrale. UICN, 55.
[18]
Poisson, J. (2009) Impact de la gestion participative sur l’efficacité de conservation dans les parcs nationaux des pays sous-développés. Master’s Thesis, Université de Sherbrooke.
[19]
USAID (2021) Analyse des dynamiques des conflits autour du parc national de Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB). USAID, 66.
[20]
Safari, A.C., Birhashirwa, R.N., Fatuma, F.K. and Mokoso, E.J.D.D.M. (2014) Exploitation de bambous (Sinarundinaria alpina (K. Schum.) C.S. Chao & Renvoize), cause des conflits entre le Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega et la population environnante: stratégie de conservation et de résolution de conflit. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 72, 265-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2014.961270
[21]
Shalukoma, C. (2007) La participation des populations pygmées à la conservation dans le parc national de Kahuzi-Biega (république démocratique du Congo). In: Quelles aires protégées pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest? IRD Éditions, 436-443. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.irdeditions.8086
[22]
Mondo, J.M., Chuma, G.B., Muke, M.B., Fadhili, B.B., Kihye, J.B., Matiti, H.M., et al. (2024) Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products as Alternative Sources of Food and Income in the Highland Regions of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Trees, Forests and People, 16, Article ID: 100547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100547
[23]
Mudinga, E.M., Ngendakumana, S. and Ansoms, A. (2013) Analyse critique du processus de cogestion du parc national de Kahuzi-Biega en République Démocratique du Congo. VertigO, 17. https://doi.org/10.4000/vertigo.13873
[24]
Doumenge, C. (1998) Forest Diversity, Distribution, and Dynamique in the Itombwe Mountains, South-Kivu, Congo Democratic Republic. Mountain Research and Development, 18, 249-264. https://doi.org/10.2307/3674036
[25]
Doumenge, C. and Schilter, C. (1997) Les Monts Itombwe: D’une enquête envi-ronnementale et socio-économique à la planification d’interventions au Zaïre. UICN, 269.
[26]
Masumbuko, C.N., Habiyaremye, F.M. and Mubalama, L.K. (2013) Habitats du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega: Connaitre et suivre leur évolution à l’aide d’un lexique des plantes. IRSNB, 189.
[27]
Mubalama, K.L., Wasso, J.D.D., Buhendwa, G., Igunzi, F., Kandji, B., Ibuwa, M., et al. (2021) Connaissances et Pratiques traditionnelles versus Conservation de la biodiversité dans les aires protégées: Cas des populations riveraines du lac Lungwe, Est RD Congo. International Journal of Science and Management Studies (IJSMS), 4, 18-35. https://doi.org/10.51386/25815946/ijsms-v4i2p103
[28]
Plumptre, A.J., Kujirakwinja, D., Ayebare, S., Mitamba, G., Muhindo, E. and Twendilonge, A. (2013) Plan de Zonage de la Réserve Naturelle d’Itombwe. Wild-life Conservation Society, 31.
[29]
Ihaka, R. (2009) R: Past and Future History. University of Auckland, 39.
[30]
Nyange, N.M. (2014) Participation des communautés locales et gestion durable des forêts: Cas de la Réserve de la Biosphère de Luki en République Démocratique du Congo. Master’s Thesis, Université Laval.
[31]
Abukari, H. and Mwalyosi, R.B. (2020) Local Communities’ Perceptions about the Impact of Protected Areas on Livelihoods and Community Development. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, e00909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00909
[32]
de Merode, E., Homewood, K. and Cowlishaw, G. (2004) The Value of Bushmeat and Other Wild Foods to Rural Households Living in Extreme Poverty in Democratic Republic of Congo. Biological Conservation, 118, 573-581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2003.10.005
[33]
Talukdar, N.R., Choudhury, P., Barbhuiya, R.A. and Singh, B. (2021) Importance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Rural Livelihood: A Study in Patharia Hills Reserve Forest, Northeast India. Trees, Forests and People, 3, Article ID: 100042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100042
[34]
Hartley, C. (2021) The International Directory of Government 2021. 18th Edition, Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003179931
[35]
Kyaw, K.T.W., Ota, T. and Mizoue, N. (2020) Forest Degradation Impacts Firewood Consumption Patterns: A Case Study in the Buffer Zone of Inlay Lake Biosphere Reserve, Myanmar. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24, e01340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01340
[36]
Naughton-Treves, L., Holland, M.B. and Brandon, K. (2005) The Role of Protected Areas in Conserving Biodiversity and Sustaining Local Livelihoods. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 30, 219-252. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.30.050504.164507
[37]
Rutakayingabo, M.D. (2020) Dynamiques socioéconomiques et gestion des aires protégées: Vers une reterritorialisation des politiques publiques environnementales. Master’s Thesis, Université d’Antananarivo.
[38]
Mbifung Lambi, C., Ndzifon Kimengsi, J., Givencheh Kometa, C. and Sunjo Tata, E. (2012) The Management and Challenges of Protected Areas and the Sustenance of Local Livelihoods in Cameroon. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 2, 10-18. https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v2n3p10
[39]
Roth, R. (2004) On the Colonial Margins and in the Global Hotspot: Park-People Conflicts in Movement in Tanzania. Development and Change, 34, 863-885.
[40]
Jim, C.Y. and Xu, S.S. (2003) Getting Out of the Woods: Quandaries of Protected Area Management in China. Mountain Research and Development, 23, 222-226. https://doi.org/10.1659/0276-4741(2003)023[0222:gootw]2.0.co;2
