As a researcher at the Research Centre for Biodiversity Management and Climate Change and a lecturer at Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural (full-time) and Catholic University of Bukavu (part-time), he holds a Ph.D. in governance and regional integration, with a master’s degree in development. His research is centered on natural resources and protected area governance.
Illegal trafficking and poaching of primates are still rife in and around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP). The park’s flagship species, such as the critically endangered Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), the chimpanzee and the bay colobus (Piliocolobus badius) are endangered, the Hoest’s cercopithecus (Cercopithecus lhoesti) and Hamlyn’s cercopithecus (Cercopithecus hamly) and the grey-cheeked lophocebe (Lophocebus albigena) are vulnerable, despite being fully protected by Law 14/003 of February 11, 2014 on nature conservation and Law 82-002 of May 28, 1982 regulating hunting in the DR Congo and CITES. Available work and conservation efforts focus on ecological monitoring of these species, anti-poaching and law enforcement for their effective protection. It seems to us that at the present stage of ongoing efforts, a better understanding of the socio-economic dimensions of traffickers’ and poachers’ networks will help managers and technical and financial partners to implement effective policies to achieve biodiversity conservation objectives in and around the KBNP.