FACTORS AFFECTING THE BOUNDARY DEMARCATION IN THE KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK, KIVU, D. R. CONGO

Abstract

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the world heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its legal boundaries were not negotiated with local communities. Confl icts arose between park offi cials and surrounding communities. The German- Congo bilateral conservation project enhanced recognition of boundary demarcation in some communities, but not in others. This paper analyzes the factors positively or negatively affecting the boundary demarcation process. The participation of leading traditional chiefs to demarcation missions positively affected the boundary demarcation in proportion to the number of health centers and agricultural projects sponsored in the area. In contrast, written complaints lodged against the park from a particular category of "urbanized natives" hampered the boundary demarcation. Such complaints were correlated with the number of interferences of local communities' interests by the park. Law enforcement tended to reduce the number and length of challenged boundary sections.