Conservation Paradigms Seen through the Eyes of Bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Bonobos are the most recently discovered species of great ape, and are endemic to an area within a large convex bend of the Congo River, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In this chapter, we highlight issues related to the discovery for science of a significant population of bonobos to the west of their range (Inogwabini et al., 2007a, b), lying some 100 km outside the boundary of the nearest statutory protected area. We use this discovery to compare two opposing conservation paradigms: protected areas as a backbone of species and habitat conservation versus more inclusive conservation models that embrace community-managed conservation areas. The key conservation dilemma that this chapter addresses is why bonobos occur at higher densities in unprotected areas that have long been considered marginal habitats, while habitats previously thought to have been optimal, including areas that are formally protected, have failed to meet their conservation goals for bonobos.