scholarly journals Living under a Fluctuating Climate and a Drying Congo Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2936
Author(s):  
Denis Jean Sonwa ◽  
Mfochivé Oumarou Farikou ◽  
Gapia Martial ◽  
Fiyo Losembe Félix
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Slight Modification ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Environmental Actions ◽  
Equatorial Forest

Humid conditions and equatorial forest in the Congo Basin have allowed for the maintenance of significant biodiversity and carbon stock. The ecological services and products of this forest are of high importance, particularly for smallholders living in forest landscapes and watersheds. Unfortunately, in addition to deforestation and forest degradation, climate change/variability are impacting this region, including both forests and populations. We developed three case studies based on field observations in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as information from the literature. Our key findings are: (1) the forest-related water cycle of the Congo Basin is not stable, and is gradually changing; (2) climate change is impacting the water cycle of the basin; and, (3) the slow modification of the water cycle is affecting livelihoods in the Congo Basin. Developmental and environmental actions in the Congo Basin need to properly consider the slight modification of this water cycle in watersheds that affect products and services from the forest.

Vers une écologie linguistique des anciens chasseurs-cueilleurs du bassin central congolais

Anthropos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
André Motingea Mangulu
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Current State ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
The Status ◽  
Southern Cameroon

The article attempts to provide some sociolinguistic information about the former Hunter-Gatherers of the Central Congo Basin in the hope that they could arouse the same scientific interest as that which was carried out on the Bambuti Pygmies of Ituri and Aka of the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Southern Cameroon. It emerges that all the questions raised and discussed so far in relation to the status of the languages spoken by these latter Pygmy tribes, their structure and their genetic affiliation also apply to the Pygmies of the Central Congo Basin. Thus, the article addresses, first and foremost, the problem of their near and distant origins and their current sociolinguistic situation, before going on to review the current state of linguistic research. A subclassification is then sketched based on common phonetic, morphosyntactic, and lexical characteristics to their languages as well as the traditions collected by the colonial administration.

scholarly journals The Conditional Sink: Counterfactual Display in the Valuation of a Carbon Offsetting Reforestation Project

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véra Ehrenstein ◽  
Fabian Muniesa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Possible Worlds ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Carbon Offsetting ◽  
The World ◽  
Prospective Assessment ◽  
Change Mitigation

This paper examines counterfactual display in the valuation of carbon offsetting projects. Considered a legitimate way to encourage climate change mitigation, such projects rely on the establishment of procedures for the prospective assessment of their capacity to become carbon sinks. This requires imagining possible worlds and assessing their plausibility. The world inhabited by the project is articulated through conditional formulation and subjected to what we call “counterfactual display”: the production and circulation of documents that demonstrate and con!gure the counterfactual valuation. We present a case study on one carbon offsetting reforestation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We analyse the construction of the scene that allows the “What would have happened” question to make sense and become actionable. We highlight the operations of calculative framing that this requires, the reality constraints it relies upon, and the entrepreneurial conduct it stimulates.

Multi-Temporal Landsat Remote Sensing for Forest Landscape Fragmentation Analysis in the Yoko Forest, Kisangani, DRC

2019 ◽  
pp. 1477-1496
Author(s):  
Jean-Fiston Mikwa Ngamba ◽  
Ewango Corneille Ekokinya ◽  
Cush Ngonzo Luwesi ◽  
Yves-Dady Botula Kahindo ◽  
Muhogwa Jean Marie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Landscape Fragmentation ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Forest Landscape ◽  
Multi Temporal

This study assessed the impact of human activities on deforestation and sustainability of water resources and livelihoods in the Congo Basin. It mainly aimed to assess forest degradation in the Yoko reserve from 1976 to 2015 and investigate the compatibility of Landsat imagery for forest monitoring. Digital Image processing for unsupervised classification was done using ENVI software while supervised classification was done by means of ArcGIS 10. Results show that forest landscape faced large scale human induced fragmentation over the last 40 years. If these trends continue, they will affect the sustainability of water resources and livelihoods in the Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hence, policy makers need to look at key drivers and address impacts that may threaten the future of Hydrological Ecosystems Services, including water and land resources in the Congo Basin. Authorities have to apply an Integrated Management of Water, Land and Ecosystems.

scholarly journals Competing Tenures: Implications for REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Samndong ◽  
Arild Vatn
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Forest Law

The capacity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forests to sequestrate carbon has attracted interest from the international community to protect forests for carbon storage and alleviate rural poverty by establishing REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Using information gathered from interviews, focus groups, field observations, and policy document analysis, this paper demonstrates that REDD+ is not well adapted to the institutional structures of forest governance in the DRC, including both statutory and customary tenure. The lack of harmonization between these systems has created a situation of competition between state and customary authorities. This has created opportunities for powerful actors to ‘shop’ between the two systems to attempt to legitimize their expanded use and control over forest resources. As the REDD+ process evolves from the preparation to the implementation phase, competing institutional structures may negatively impact the effectiveness of REDD+, as well as the distribution of costs and benefits. While the newly enacted community forest law provides an opportunity to recognize customary rights to forestland, the lack of functional local government at the district and village levels has prompted REDD+ pilot project organizers to establish new village organizations for REDD+.

scholarly journals Qualitative study of antibiotic prescription patterns and associated drivers in Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e036530
Author(s):  
Tonka Eibs ◽  
Alena Koscalova ◽  
Mohit Nair ◽  
Paul Grohma ◽  
Gisa Kohler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Antibiotic Prescription ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Project Staff ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Guinea Bissau ◽  
Consumption Habits

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to address the knowledge gap regarding antibiotic use in Medecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF) projects located in Africa by exploring antibiotic prescription and consumption habits and their drivers at different healthcare levels.DesignThis study used an exploratory study design through thematic analysis of semistructured, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and field observations in order to understand the main drivers influencing current antibiotics prescription habits and consumption habits of patients in different geographical settings.SettingThe study took place in MSF centres and towns across four countries: Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan.Participants384 respondents participated in the study, which includes project staff, prescribers, community members, patients, among other groups.ResultsTreatment protocols were physically present in all countries except DRC, but compliance to protocols varied across contexts. A failing health system and barriers to accessing healthcare were perceived as major drivers of overuse and inconsistent prescription practices. Patient demands influenced prescription decisions, and self-medication was commonly reported in the context of failing health systems. Additionally, there was a strong demand for quick cures and communities preferred injections over pills. Patients tended to stop antibiotic treatment once symptoms abated and had major gaps in understanding antibiotic intake instructions and functions.ConclusionsWhile there were specific findings in each context, the larger trend from these four MSF projects in Africa indicates widespread use of antibiotics based on unclear assumptions, which are often influenced by patient demands. There needs to be a broader focus on the balance between access and excess, especially in such fragile contexts where access to healthcare is a real challenge.

scholarly journals The present-day Egyptian ivory trade

Oryx ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmond Martin
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Member State ◽  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Domestic Trade ◽  
Import And Export ◽  
Ivory Trade ◽  
Egyptian Government

AbstractThere are probably more illegal ivory items for sale in Egypt than anywhere else in Africa. The author visited the main tourist centres of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan in late 1998 and counted over 21,000 ivory items for sale. Most of the ivory has come from elephants hunted illegally in Central and West Africa. Traders still transport the raw tusks, by truck and on camels, through Sudan across the desert into Egypt. Since the 1990 CITES ban on the international commercial ivory trade, Egypt, a member state, has prohibited not only the import and export of ivory but domestic trade as well. Ivory sales continue openly, however, in the markets and hotels, and new ivory items are still being made. The main buyers are from France, Italy, Spain and Latin America. The Egyptian Government must enforce its legislation against this ivory trade to reduce the serious elephant poaching in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Language and Ethnobotany

2020 ◽  
pp. 731-749
Author(s):  
Karsten Legère
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Folk Taxonomy ◽  
African Languages ◽  
Bantu Languages ◽  
Noun Classes ◽  
Plant Names ◽  
Plant Habitat

This chapter deals with ethnobotany, folk taxonomy, and African languages. In its first part people’s structuring of the plant kingdom with particular reference to life forms, and generic and specific taxa is discussed. Reference is made to relevant folk taxonomic terms and plant names in Bantu languages from East Africa, especially Tanzania, Namibia, to some extent also from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. It is interesting to note that on top of widespread taxa like TREE or PLANT habitat-related life forms were traced in various languages such as CLIMBER, VINE in Vidunda or BUSH, SHRUB in Kwangali, and THORN TREE in Ndonga, as well as other specific taxa. In this respect sub-life forms were also recorded and examples given. The second part of the chapter focuses on folk conceptualization and the system of Bantu noun classes.

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