Author(s) :

Fidélise Benga Ntedika, Richard Sabimana Gasigwa, Cush Ngonzo Luwesi, Raphael Tshimanga Muamba, Génie Spirou Kiala Lutonadio, Jean Jacques Nzau Tumbu.

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Abstract :

Marine protected areas, such as mangroves, play crucial environmental, economic, and social roles at both global and local levels. However, despite their recognition as World Heritage sites by international organizations, they face significant anthropogenic threats. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the communities living near the Mangrove Marine Park of Moanda (PMMM) represent both a threat and an opportunity for the conservation of this Atlantic coastal ecosystem. This study aims to identify and characterize the types of threats affecting the PMMM in Kongo-Central Province. To better understand the study area and target the relevant stakeholders, surveys and interviews were conducted with 193 households selected through quota sampling, as well as with representatives from the Congolese Center for Nature Protection (CCPN) and the ULB-Cooperation project. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate approaches, were used to assess the pressures on the PMMM’s resources. The findings indicate that non-compliance with regulations and the overexploitation of marine and coastal resources are major drivers of mangrove degradation. Paradoxically, while protection is necessary, it also limits local access to mangrove resources, sometimes leading to destructive practices. Nevertheless, the PMMM remains an ecologically unique site requiring serious protection efforts. The study calls for the integration of environmental justice principles to support holistic analyses of mangrove ecosystems and to prevent unregulated exploitation by local populations.

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