The role of land-use practices, biodiversity perceptions, and human wellbeing on community stewardship; a case study in Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Balancing biodiversity conservation with human needs is a critical global challenge at the heart of ‘Living Sustainably’. In areas of common-pool resources, short-term exploitative interests of individuals can undermine long-term ecological and social sustainability. Community stewardship, which is rooted in sustainable resource management, offers a promising people-focused solution. Stewardship behaviours are influenced by biodiversity values, an individual’s knowledge and agency, and biodiversity effects on human wellbeing. This study explores the interplay between land-use practices, biodiversity perceptions, and wellbeing to understand how stewardship behaviours can be fostered.
Odzala-Kokoua National Park (OKNP) is a protected conservation area in the Republic of Congo. Local communities have limited access to OKNP, depend on natural resources for their livelihoods and experience challenges such as poverty and human-wildlife conflict. Recent road infrastructure has improved community connectivity, but threatens biodiversity and natural resource exploitation. OKNP management seek to balance conservation and community priorities, yet gaps remain in understanding how stewardship can address these issues. This research will investigate (1) variations in land-use practices across community groups, (2) biodiversity perceptions and impacts on human wellbeing, and (3) how these factors influence engagement in stewardship behaviours. My mixed-methods approach includes quantitative analysis of existing datasets, qualitative data collection using an adapted biodiversity-wellbeing scale, and conducting participatory focus groups. Findings will provide criticalinsights into drivers of resource use and biodiversity impacts on wellbeing in Central Africa. This evidence will inform the development of sustainable conservation strategies, enhance socio-ecological resilience and contribute to global conservation targets.