Conservation of Resources in Kahuzi-Biega

In April 1999, Mbake Sivha conducted a study on the utilization of resources in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park with support from the Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe. This is a summary of her results.
The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is situated in one of the most densely populated areas of Africa - up to 300 people per km². The pressure exerted by the human population on the park's resources has increased even further since the outbreak of war in 1996. Another factor to be taken into consideration is the situation of the pygmies. Formerly, they were settled in the area which was subsequently gazetted a national park. They still depend on it heavily today.
The goal of the study was to develop strategies for the conservation of the resources of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park with the participation of the people living close to the park; women and pygmies were involved according to their representation in the population. 25 villages along the Kajeje-Lemera road were chosen for the study. 213 people, 116 men and 97 women, were interviewed directly with a questionnaire. Of these, 161 people were Bantu and 52 were pygmies.
As a result of the interviews, we were able to list 249 wild plant species that are used by the human population. 92.6% of these plants come directly from the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Only a small part is collected outside the park.
The plants are used mainly for medicinal purposes, construction, food and as fuel. In addition, they are used as a source of timber or can be used to make charcoal and crafts for sale. Plant parts used are mostly leaves. Branches, fruit, bark and roots are used to a lesser extent.
As the plants are used so much, some species have already become very rare in the park. They are at risk of becoming locally extinct. Among them are bamboo, which is cut in the park and sold, as well as many tree species harvested for timber. The species Ficus exasperata, for example, has already become very rare. Another great problem is hunting. The demand for bushmeat in the cities and the continuing interest in ivory and trophies on the world market increase the pressure on the park's resources.
The pygmies are especially concerned because their original home is in the forest. When the park was created in 1970, they were forced to leave the Kahuzi-Biega forest and to change their lifestyle completely. There have been efforts to integrate them into the agricultural tradition of the Bashi but this has not been very successful. Hunting is still very important in their tradition and culture.
The collection of medicinal plants is traditionally the task of men. Women usually use the park's resources in a less destructive way; they only collect essential forest products like firewood, mushrooms and caterpillars.
In order to ensure a sustainable future for the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, the interviewed population recommends the following strategies for the protection of its resources:

• involve the local population in all activities and the benefits from the park's resources and thereby create incentives for protection,
• carry out a study in order to implement projects that improve the living conditions of the local people so that they no longer have to resort to the park's natural resources,
• identify all plant and animal species utilized by the human population,
• create a buffer zone around the park through reforestation,
• cultivate forest plants in private forest concessions, especially species used for medicinal purposes in communal gardens,
• conduct small-scale projects to improve the breeding of livestock,
• support the integration of the pygmies into the village communities,
• increase protection measures in the park itself.

Only if we succeed in bringing the conservation of the national park into line with the interests of the human population living nearby, will we succeed in conserving the park's resources in the long term.

Kahuzi-Biega overview

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