Revue de Primatologie (Feb 2014)
Eco-anthropologie et primatologie pour la conservation de la biodiversité : un projet collaboratif dans le Parc National de Moukalaba-Doudou, Gabon
Abstract
African tropical rainforests are decreasing rapidly because of the expansion of agricultural lands and commercial logging. In addition to habitat loss resulting from deforestation, an increase in the bushmeat trade threatens some wildlife species with extinction. Among these, African great apes are especially vulnerable because of their long life cycle and low reproduction rates, large range size, and high risk of being infected by diseases of human origin. Thus, conservation of biodiversity in African tropical rainforest, especially of great apes, is an urgent problem. In order to find a solution, the participation of the local population is essential. It is also important to implement development projects in order to resolve conflicts between conservation policies and local lifestyles. It is therefore necessary to pay enough attention to both people and animals and to move towards an integrated approach geared at the relation between local societies and the environment.Japanese ecological anthropology and primatology, which developed simultaneously through longterm field research in various regions of Africa, offer a suggestive idea to tackle the issue. Their interdisciplinary achievements may provide clues to establish a system of biodiversity conservation along with concerns for local welfare. As the outcome of cooperation between primatologists and an ecological anthropologist, this article discusses possibilities for synthesizing the two academic domains and realizing biodiversity conservation in African tropical forests based on a collaborative project in and around the Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in Gabon.Primatologists describe in detail their relationships with local people which allow them to conduct effective field research. They have developed scientific knowledge on great ape ecology as well as intimate relationships with local trackers. On the other hand, the ecological anthropologist illustrates relationships between local people and wildlife and deals with the local perception of animals. Local people have coexisted with great apes regarding them as similar to humans and giving them cultural value. The negative aspect of great apes for local people, such as crop-raiding, is also pointed out.Finally, the authors demonstrate how their interdisciplinary collaborative project integrates biodiversity conservation and local development, and then discuss the importance of ecotourism projects based on local initiatives. The synthesis of the scientific knowledge and close relationships that primatologists established with local people with the deep understanding of local culture acquired by ecological anthropologists, leads us to suggest implementing an ecotourism based on various narratives created through collaborative research activities.
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