
Опубликована: Март 26, 2025
The expansion of conservation territories has become an important symbol for measuring the success biodiversity policies. However, overreliance on symbolic actions risks distorting policy decisions, overstating achievements while hiding inefficiencies. To ensure fair and sustainable efforts, it is essential to critically assess whether prioritising territorial represents most effective response crisis. In 2000, a transnational organisation (WWF) organised expert meeting in Gabon map out priorities Central Africa, resulting virtual demarcation vast forest areas. These areas became focal points efforts over decades. Using Maiko Tayna Kahuzi-Biega (MTKB) landscape eastern Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) as case study, this paper questions within these initiatives led or substantive outcomes achieving conservation. Our findings reveal that attracts international donor funding, remains largely symbolic. Legal designations mapped create illusion progress, diverting resources from needed achieve equitable outcomes. Simply designating does not legitimacy authority ground, nor address social inequalities undermine efforts. difficulties faced by MTKB cannot be attributed solely persistent conflict region. Even after years instability, actors donors remain engaged region, pursuing global agendas prioritise territories. concept “symbolic politics”, developed Edelman, provides valuable theoretical framework explain why policies persist despite significant evidence their inability
Язык: Английский