Abstract:
Socio-anthropological analysis of the environmental indicators of climate dynamics experienced by the
population living along the Yangtze Biosphere Reserve in general, and that of Yaselia in particular, was the
objective of this research.
To achieve this, an investigation was organized in Yaselia, a village located in PK 91 of Kisangani City on
the Kisangani-Yangambi highway in the transition zone of the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve. 105 men and
women were surveyed on the basis of a pre-developed questionnaire.
After analyzing the data, the results revealed that:
? At Yaselia, people perceive climate change through indicators such as early rains, early droughts and
seasonal disturbances;
? The majority of the population attributes these climate changes to divine disapproval, saying that God
is not happy with them. To this explanation is added others such as the environment is no longer
favorable or the ancestors are angry;
? The most significant impact of these climate changes is seen at the agricultural level, where farmers
report on the wilting of crops due to lack of water, the difficulty of burning for early rainfall and the
proliferation of insect pests that result in a decline in agricultural production. But other sectors such
as hunting, gathering and fishing are not spared;
? More than half of the population surveyed indicated that climate disturbances observed in the
environment have negative impacts on the resources of the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, such as the
decrease in forest products other than wood (gibiers, caterpillars, snails, etc.).
This information is of paramount importance for the development of climate change adaptation strategies in
the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
