Publications
Verbal autopsy and outbreak investigation of anthrax in Livestock and Wildlife at the Virunga National Park Interface Area, Democratic Republic of the Congo
A cross-sectional survey and outbreak investigation in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, confirmed the presence of Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, during an outbreak in 2021. The study revealed that while farmers in the region are knowledgeable about anthrax, they engage in unhealthy practices related to handling and consuming contaminated meat. Transhumance livestock management, anthropogenic activities, and the absence of a surveillance program were identified as primary contributors to anthrax outbreaks. The research highlights the need for collaborative efforts to manage these outbreaks effectively, reducing their threat to health and livelihoods in the area.
The coloniality of crisis conservation: the transnationalization and militarization of Virunga National Park from an historical perspective
Current conservation practices in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, reflect deep-rooted colonial continuities that persist despite the park's transnationalization and militarization. The study reveals how historical colonial management structures have shaped strained relations between park authorities and local populations, even during periods labeled as 'crisis' due to prolonged conflict. These practices remain largely unchanged, operating within a colonial 'state of exception.' The research adopts an historical perspective, tracing pre-colonial history, the park's creation in 1925, and its management over time to uncover these continuities.
Comparing Factors Conditioning Landscape Change During Volcanic Eruption at Virunga National Park, East Africa
A study comparing landscape changes at Virunga National Park, East Africa, from 1990 to 2018 reveals that human activities are the primary drivers of transformation, particularly in central and northern regions. The research highlights how volcanic eruptions reshaped 8.36 km² of the park into new lava flows, while grasslands and shrublands also underwent significant changes due to volcanic plumes and gas emissions. Using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS), the study analyzed Landsat images and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data to assess these dynamics. The findings underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate human impacts and volcanic effects on protected areas, serving as a baseline for future management efforts.
Conflicts around Virunga National Park: Grassroots perspectives
People living near Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, identify three key sources of conflict with the park: disputes over boundaries and natural resources, concerns about law enforcement practices by park guards, and dissatisfaction with community engagement and development initiatives. This study, based on long-term field research from 2012 to 2019, captures grassroots perspectives that highlight tensions between conservation goals and local livelihoods, offering critical insights for improving park management strategies.
Stimulating Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Conservation Action: Predicting Future Land Use/Cover Change in Virunga National Park, Congo
A significant reduction in Virunga National Park's forest and open land areas is projected by 2030, driven primarily by agricultural expansion and urban development. This finding stems from a study that simulated future land cover changes using advanced modeling techniques, including machine learning algorithms and Markov chain analysis. Researchers analyzed satellite images from 2010, 2015, and 2019 to identify key drivers of these changes, such as landscape topography and proximity to human activities. The study provides critical insights for data-driven decision-making, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offering recommendations to mitigate environmental degradation while supporting sustainable development in the region.
Public Authority and Conservation in Areas of Armed Conflict: Virunga National Park as a ‘State within a State’ in Eastern Congo
Virunga National Park, located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exemplifies the complex interplay between conservation efforts and conflict dynamics. Research reveals that while transnational actors have increased their influence over park management, this has not strengthened state authority but instead contributed to a 'state within a state' phenomenon. The militarization of conservation in Virunga, often seen as extending state control, actually fosters extra-state territorialization practices. This challenges conventional notions of state authority and suggests that the intersection of conservation and territorialization should be analyzed through the lens of public authority rather than preconceived state frameworks.
Virunga National Park, the heart of darkness as UNESCO World Heritage
Virunga National Park, Africa's first and most renowned national park, faces an eco-crisis rooted in historical rhetoric. The study identifies problematic narrative patterns—echoing Joseph Conrad’s 'Heart of Darkness'—in both human rights campaigns from the Congo Reform Movement (1900) and animal rights movements led by figures like Dian Fossey in the 1970s. These campaigns, while advocating for justice, share responsibility for perpetuating ecological threats to Virunga's biodiversity, particularly its iconic mountain gorillas. The analysis highlights the documentary Virunga (2014) as a rhetorical model offering an alternative narrative path. This work critiques the long-term political and environmental consequences of such discourses, urging a reevaluation of their impact on conservation efforts.
Beyond Contesting Limits: Land, Access, and Resistance at the Virunga National Park
Nature conservation strategies at Virunga National Park, implemented post-conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), face significant resistance from local populations. While elites employ overt political contestation, peasants utilize 'weapons of the weak,' engaging in covert, everyday resistance through customary land access practices. This multi-dimensional resistance reflects broader conflict dynamics in eastern DRC while embedding them within conservation efforts, which are tightly intertwined with global dynamics. The study highlights how these resistance strategies challenge re-enclosure practices and underscores the complex interplay between local agency and global conservation frameworks.
The ‘green militarisation’ of development aid: the European Commission and the Virunga National Park, DR Congo
Development aid from the European Commission (EC) to Virunga National Park, DR Congo, is found to contribute to 'green militarisation'—a process where conservation efforts are intertwined with paramilitary practices. The EC funds salaries and training for park guards while supporting mixed patrols with the Congolese army, framing violent conflicts around the park as economic rather than political issues. This approach allows policymakers to avoid public scrutiny over the use of aid for (para)military purposes. Unlike prior studies that focus on securitised discourses, this research highlights mundane practices within international organisations that facilitate militarisation in conservation. The findings underscore the need to examine how institutional norms and networks obscure the political dimensions of conservation-related violence.
The counterinsurgency/conservation nexus: guerrilla livelihoods and the dynamics of conflict and violence in the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Strict conservation enforcement and joint military operations in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, paradoxically intensify armed mobilization by fueling guerrilla livelihoods. These unauthorized activities—such as cultivation, fishing, and logging—often occur under the protection of armed groups, creating a complex interplay between resource exploitation, conflict dynamics, and insurgent resistance. The study demonstrates that traditional conservation strategies may inadvertently exacerbate violence rather than mitigate it, highlighting the need for nuanced approaches that address both ecological preservation and local livelihood security.
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