Conception culturelle de la conservation des ressources forestières par les Twa (Pygmées) dans le corridor biologique du Parc national de Salonga en République Démocratique du Congo

Papy Ngongo Lolatui; Papy Bokombola Bonkena; Happy Salabiaku Kimvwela; Constantin Ayingweu Lubini

Cultural conception of forest resource conservation among the twa (Pygmies) in the biological corridor of Salonga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Authors

Papy Ngongo Lolatui Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Sciences de l’environnement, Kinshasa, RD Congo Author
Papy Bokombola Bonkena Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques et Environnement, Kinshasa, RD Congo Author
Happy Salabiaku Kimvwela Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Sciences de l’environnement, Kinshasa, RD Congo Author
Constantin Ayingweu Lubini Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Sciences de l’environnement, Kinshasa, RD Congo Author

Keywords:

Twa (Pygmées), savoirs écologiques traditionnels, conservation des forêts, Parc national de la Salonga, gouvernance forestière

Abstract

This study explores the cultural conceptions and traditional practices of forest resource conservation among the Twa (Pygmies) in the biological corridor of Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Using a qualitative approach based on direct observation, semi-structured interviews, and participatory surveys, the research highlights ancestral strategies for sustainable forest management, including self-consumption, respect for customary taboos, and the preservation of sacred forests. It also reveals growing tensions between these traditional practices and modern conservation policies, which are often perceived as exclusionary by local communities. The study proposes concrete pathways for integrating indigenous ecological knowledge into national environmental policies. These findings underscore the importance of inclusive forest governance, rooted in intercultural dialogue and the recognition of traditional knowledge as a key driver of ecological sustainability.

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