Geographies of fear – The everyday (geo)politics of ‘green’ violence and militarization in the intended transboundary Virunga Conservation Area

A novel analysis reveals that fear plays a pivotal role in perpetuating 'green' violence and militarization within transboundary protected areas, such as the intended Virunga Conservation Area spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Despite their promotion as instruments of peacebuilding, these regions experience rising violent conservation practices, driven by discourses of fear among park rangers. These narratives, shaped by governmental interests in sovereignty and territorial integrity, undermine transboundary collaboration efforts. The study, based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, argues that integrating the voices of those affected by these practices can pave the way for non-violent conservation pathways in the future.

Trogisch, L. (2021). Geographies of fear – The everyday (geo)politics of ‘green’ violence and militarization in the intended transboundary Virunga Conservation Area. Geoforum, 122, 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.03.003