People-nature relations and community perception on conservation: Case of Kisandji Village near Upemba National Park, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Abstract

In the context of accelerating environmental degradation, human-nature relationships have gained renewed attention. In and around protected areas, these relationships are marked by contestation, war and conflict. This study explores the relationships between residents of Kisandji Village, near Upemba National Park (UNP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the natural resources they depend on. Using mixed participatory methods, we examined resource use and perceptions of conservation versus livelihoods. Residents emphasized provisioning services as essential to daily needs, identity and security. This dependence, alongside institutional and historical constraints and threats of extractive activities, has shaped a feeling of exclusion and precarity. While some view UNP as limiting their livelihoods, others support conservation when it includes participatory management and acknowledges local needs. The findings highlight that the need for inclusive conservation strategies that align ecological goals with community priorities is even more crucial when other drivers of extractive activities threaten.