La conservation de la nature en Afrique centrale entre théorie et ...

Wilderness Conservation in Central Africa, from Theory toPractices. Looking for Flexible Protected AreasAbstract:tel-00508990, version 1 - 9 Aug 2010This thesis proposes an analyze of integrated wildlife conservation anddevelopment projects in Central Africa, which have been designed throughcommunity based approaches since the eighties in the framework ofinternational projects and programs.We give an idea about conservation hotspots and protected areas’ spatialrepresentation which has became central to community based conservationinitiatives. This representation is produced from a typical core/peripherycontrasted relation between wild areas and production spaces. It generatesstereotyped local development and governance models as well as zoningapproaches shifting away from local practices and habits, particularly regardingland use and tenure issues. Consequently, this territorial centripetalrepresentation engenders power relations and conflicts linked to protectedareas management. This power games constitute obstacles to communities’ activeparticipation in the frame of conservation projects.We illustrate our analyze through a critical review of sustainable developmentrhetoric issues applied to wilderness management and through several appliedcases studies in Central Africa. Zakouma National Park (Chad) case study and itsland management experience constitute a particular example for demonstratinghow conservationists use to implement their strategy in Central Africa.Key words : Central Africa, Conservation Project, Communities, ProtectedArea, Spatial Representation, Local Governance, Zakouma- 3 -