Human Impact on a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve (Congo Brazzaville): Between Conservation and Sustainable Development

Methods

Summary

We will be using the Delphi technique, the Q methodology and a TESSA-tool inspired Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to extract the perception of different stakeholders on the state and trends of ecosystem services and their management. 

The Delphi technique is a systematic interactive way of gaining opinions/forecasts from a panel of independent experts and policy makers. Here, the opinions of experts in France and other countries will be compared with the opinions of experts in Dimonika about the policy and management of the reserve. 

With the use of the Q methodology as a second technique, we aim to elicit the views, perceptions and discourses of local stakeholders in the Dimonika MAB regarding the state of the Biosphere Reserve, its current management and the use of the provided ecosystem services by the inhabitants. To be able to scientifically approach these human subjectivities, Q participants are presented a list of statements about several topics related to Dimonika MAB on which they are asked to rank them on a semi-forced normal scale (such as form most agree to most disagree). Subsequently will the results of the Q sorting be discussed in a post-sorting interview to elaborate on the most extreme rankings (most agreed and disagreed ones). This step in the Q methodology will facilitate the identification of the several discourses regarding their position towards Dimonika MAB as a whole after the data analysis has been implemented.

The TESSA-tool inspired Nominal Group Technique is used to elicit views from non-specialist, direct stakeholders on which ecosystem services are important and how the people benefit from using those services. We will create homogeneous groups of stakeholders who make use of the forest in the same way, they will provide information individually after which a collective group discussion is held to gather consensus.

By choosing for these three methods we will be able to investigate the use of the Dimonika MAB on different levels and provide a broad vision. The use of stakeholders-inclusive techniques allows us to look at current problems and possible solutions for management challenges from many different angles. By comparing our results from the Delphi technique with those from the Q methodology and NGT, we can identify gaps between the intended policy goals and the reality in the field. We will make a comparison with other UNESCO areas, which can be used to provide potential management strategies.

Challenges

All three of our methods strongly depends on the willingness of stakeholders to cooperate. Gaining trust to speak openly will be a first challenge, which we will try to overcome by working with local guides and translators. Illegal interpretations of the law, which result in illegal activities like gold mining, wood exploitation and culling of endangered species, might be not spoken openly about. Here we can only hope the trust we will try to install will make people be inclined to speaking the truth.