Indigenous peoples near Congo parks propose diverse solutions for the future of conservation

Around Congo's Maiko, Salonga, Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga national parks, Indigenous Twa and Tembo communities displaced when the parks were created in the 20th century are divided over whether to demand return to their ancestral land.

A 2022 African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights review recommended return with land rights recognition for Kahuzi-Biega, and many interviewed by Mongabay want to go back, though some prefer the government conservation authority keep control given armed conflict and insecurity in the region.

Interviewees describe food insecurity, volcanic disaster and inconsistent aid from humanitarian groups as driving factors, with some foraging inside park boundaries to survive even after past expulsions.

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