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Kasereka Vitekere

  • Biodiversity Journal, 16 (4): 637-651

    David Kambale Malimbo, Kasereka Vitekere, Steve-Fabien Mayongo-Lenzi, Luc Mumbere Lango, Patient Mapendo & Emmanuel Kulethatha Sengemoja
    Local knowledge and natural resources management: case study of the Kahuzi Biega National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2025.16.4.637.651

    ABSTRACT
    Natural resources have always been one of significant economic and cultural importance to indigenous communities as these communities always dealt with resources from human appearance till now. This study investigates the role of local knowledge in sustainable natural resource management in the Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A mixed-methods approach, involving questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and participatory workshops, was applied to 550 respondents from 11 villages surrounding the Kahuzi Biega National Park. Data analysis using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests revealed that 70.2% of participants do not feel involved in park management. Key barriers include lack of information and communication (46.4%), absence of legal recognition (8.9%), and conflicts of interest (21.8%). Notably, 85% reported that traditional ecological knowledge such as seasonal hunting closures, sacred forest protection, and customary sanctions, remains excluded from current management practices. Ethnic variations were observed, with the Shi demonstrating the highest engagement in biodiversity-friendly practices (hunting closures: 66.7%), while groups such as the Lega, Havu, and Tembo did not adopt these measures. The majority (86.7%) perceived the park’s socio-economic and environmental impacts as negative. Respondents prioritized legal recognition of ancestral land rights (34.7%), participatory consultation mechanisms (30.5%), and capacity building (19.5%) as critical for effective involvement. Fisher’s exact test confirms a statistically significant association between ethnic groups and traditional practices (p-value = 0.0004998). The findings underscore the need for inclusive governance frameworks, integrating local knowledge and fostering co-management, to reconcile biodiversity conservation goals with the cultural values and livelihoods of resource-dependent communities.