CHANGE IN LAND USE AMONG THE BONGANDO IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Abstract

The change in land use of the Bongando people in the tropical rainforests of the democratic republic of the Congo was studied. this research used several datasets on land use from the 1960s to the present. Most of them are based on the long-term fixed point research in the Wamba region, where primatological and anthropological research has been conducted by a Japanese team. the patterns of change in land use across the years show that crop fields and secondary forest areas have been gradually expanding at a moderate pace. the Bongando people circulate crop fields mostly in secondary forest areas. in this sense, they render a minimum burden for the forest environment. Meanwhile, they frequently enter forest areas to stay in hunting/fishing camps. Such stays form a considerable portion of their subsistence. for nature conservation and development programs, this type of data-based information on local people’s land use is indispensable.