Reservations About Nature Reserves: Local Voices on Conservation in the Ituri

A study on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve reveals that local communities in the Ituri region hold a deep-seated belief that wildlife will never be depleted under traditional subsistence practices. This perspective contrasts sharply with the conservation efforts led by international organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, which aimed to gazette over 13,000 square kilometers of rainforest in 1992. The research highlights the tension between local perceptions and global conservation strategies, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive approaches to wildlife protection.

Peterson, R. B. (2019). Reservations About Nature Reserves: Local Voices on Conservation in the Ituri. Conversations in the Rainforest, 147–224. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429037023-5