Eco-anthropologie et primatologie pour la conservation de la biodiversité : un projet collaboratif dans le Parc National de Moukalaba-Doudou, Gabon

Résumé Fr En

La conservation de la biodiversité et notamment des grands singes, dans les forêts tropicales africaines, est un problème urgent, à la solution duquel la participation des populations locales est essentielle. Il est également important de mettre en œuvre des projets de développement afin d’atténuer les conflits entre politiques de conservation et modes de vie locaux. Il s’agit donc d’accorder une attention équitable aux humains et aux animaux pour une approche large et intégrée des relations entre les sociétés locales et leur environnement. L’éco-anthropologie et la primatologie japonaises, qui se sont depuis longtemps développées simultanément dans diverses régions d’Afrique, permettent d’envisager des pistes de réflexion. Cet article discute les possibilités de synthèse disciplinaire à partir d’un projet collaboratif dans et autour du Parc National de Moukalaba-Doudou au Gabon. Les primatologues évoquent concrètement leurs relations avec la population locale sans laquelle leurs recherches de terrain ne pourraient être menées à bien. D’un autre côté, l’éco-anthropologue aborde les relations entre la population locale et la faune et leur incidence sur la perception locale des animaux. La recherche d’une convergence entre connaissances scientifiques et relations des primatologues avec la population locale d’une part, avec la compréhension profonde de la culture locale des éco-anthropologues d’autre part, nous conduit à enrichir les pratiques écotouristiques par des récits variés fondés sur les savoirs locaux et la recherche scientifique.

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.