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The impact of war on forest areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2002

Dirk Draulans  and
Ellen Van Krunkelsven
Dirk Draulans
Affiliation:
Société Salonga Museumlaan, 61 B-3080, Tervuren, Belgium, E-mail: [email protected]
Ellen Van Krunkelsven
Affiliation:
Société Salonga Museumlaan, 61 B-3080, Tervuren, Belgium, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This paper provides a review of data on the effects of the civil war on forest areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only a few of these effects were beneficial, the most important being the collapse of the wood industry. However, the war has increased the number of people that rely on wood for fuel and bushmeat for protein. The presence of soldiers and refugees aggravates this pressure. When people hide they do not necessarily refrain from hunting, because goods, including ivory, can be stocked to be traded when the situation improves. War seems beneficial to the environment only if it keeps people out of large areas. It could be useful to extend the concept of peace parks to war zones. The idea of an international ‘green force’ to protect biodiversity hotspots should be given serious consideration. Awareness is growing that political instability should not preclude conservation efforts from being continued.

Keywords

AfricabiodiversitybushmeatDemocratic Republic Congoforestshuntingwar
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , January 2002 , pp. 35 - 40
Copyright
© 2002 Flora & Fauna International