Espaces partagés et tensions vécues : anthropologie de la cohabitation homme-faune dans les parcs nationaux du Gabon.

Abstract

This article analyzes the causes and implications of human-wildlife coexistence, particularly between human populations and elephants, in three national parks in Gabon: Lopé, Loango, and Moukalaba-Doudou. Employing both documentary and ethnographic approaches, it highlights the social, economic, and environmental dynamics that shape these interactions. The increase in elephant populations, a consequence of conservation policies, contributes to the intensification of often conflictual contact with local communities. Simultaneously, economic activities, notably logging and mining on the periphery of the parks, disrupt the elephants' natural habitats, encouraging their gradual encroachment into inhabited areas. These dynamics lead to significant repercussions, including the destruction of food crops, economic losses, and a growing sense of insecurity among local residents. These realities raise questions about the sustainability of conservation policies when they clash with local needs. Several avenues for addressing these tensions are explored. These measures include the regulated management of elephant populations, the strengthening of protective measures such as electrified fences around agricultural areas, and community awareness programs aimed at reducing the risk of confrontations. The study also highlights the need for shared governance between authorities, conservationists, and local communities to reconcile biodiversity conservation with socioeconomic imperatives. It underscores the complexity of human-wildlife relationships and calls for integrated territorial management to promote sustainable coexistence.