Professeur Associé, Unité d’Écodéveloppement, Ethnobiologie et Savoirs endogènes, Département des Sciences de l’Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, RD Congo
The majority of the population in Africa resort to traditional medicine to solve the problem of health. The present study, an ethno-botanical survey, was carried out with 70 sellers of medicinal plants anti-diabetic and 30 traditional healers in two townships Kimbaseke et Selembao in city of Kinshasa according to principles included in the declaration of Helsink. Her goal is to promote the traditional ecological knowledge. The ethno-botanical data collected were then supplemented by information concerning the plant ecological types. The results from this study revealed that 21 species belonging 19 genera and 15 families were inventoried in the medicinal flora for treatment of diabetes. The 15 families are dominated by Rubiaceae with three species. The sale and use of the medicinal plant species is a current practice among the age ranging from 22 to 67 years with prevalence at the old people of 51 years and over with predominantly male activity. the barks and leaves are the parts most used by traditional healers and therefore the most sold. The infusion is the most used process. It is important to take conservation measures in order to revalorizing and preserving/using them for sustainable development according to the convention on biological diversity. It is desirable that advanced phytochemical and pharmacological studies are carried out on the two plant species for the scientific validation of their bioactivity, for conversion of the traditional knowledge into scientific culture according to the convention on biological diversity.
In the present study, an ethno-botanical survey, we consider the processes by which today the knowledge and know-how related to the various subsistence activities and also in the social field are acquired and transmitted in a context of sexual division of labour among the Ekonda populations of the Territory of Bikoro in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The method used is to submit a questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of key individuals and informants, whether they know how to do the requested activity, and if so, from whom they learned it. The results obtained show that the Ekonda differ from other members of the Mongo ethnolinguistic group in the activities for which they are recognized as specialists and connoisseur, namely: dance and ceremonial songs, to some extent the hunt for net and sagary. However, the differences observed can be explained more by the age and sex of the informants than by the place of residence. Differences according to sex, between men and women, are distinguished in the same sectors of activity. However, hunting activities, honey collection, palm wine making, felling of trees for cultivation and the construction of houses are more clearly mastered by men than by women within the Ekonda community. While at first sight the practice of agriculture is likely to involve a decrease in the use of the wild plants collected as well as the knowledge related to them, it can be seen that collection still plays an important role in the daily life of the Ekonda, especially for food.
This study carried out in the main markets of the City of Kinshasa aims to contribute to the knowledge of medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses in order to convert local naturalistic knowledge into scientific knowledge to be preserved sustainably. It emerges from this study that: 66 species divided into 59 genera and 40 families have inventoried in the medicinal flora sold in Kinshasa. These plants treat 38 diseases. However, the best consensus emerges among respondents only in the treatment of fever due to Malaria and Diabetes. The lowest consensus is achieved with the treatment of hemorrhoids, urinary infections, high blood pressure, sexual weakness and cough. Salespeople and traditional practitioners are recruited from men as well as women. They are almost evenly distributed across different ages. The use of medicinal plants is a common practice in age groups from 30 to 67 years with a predominance in people aged 45-54 years. However, the majority of sellers have as their main activity the sale of medicinal plants, and half associate the sale of medicinal plants with other products. Decoction is the most used method of preparation while the bark and root are the most stressed parts of the plant. It is therefore desirable that chemical screenings and phytochemical analyses be carried out on plants mentioned in the treatment of malaria and diabetes.
Climate change has thus become a major global issue. Scientific studies clearly show that the changes at work since the beginning of the industrial period are out of step with the natural variability of the climate. It is a threat to the survival of rural households in sub-Saharan Africa who depend mainly on agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of agricultural producers of climate change, its impacts on the environment, adaptation strategies and the relationships between these different aspects. Surveys were carried out through group discussions and an individual questionnaire administered to 300 households in the Lake Tumba region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our analyzes made it possible to identify the factors influencing local perceptions of climate change and the choice of adaptation strategies. The study shows that the majority of rural populations surveyed perceive a decrease in rainfall (81.7%), an increase in temperatures during the day (95%) and at night (98.3%) and strong winds (77, 6%). The level of education of the head of household, size, membership of a peasant organization and cultivated area determine this perception. Land degradation results mainly in soils that are flooded for longer and low agricultural yields. The main adaptation strategy is varietal adaptation. The determining factors of this adaptation are membership of a peasant organization, training in agricultural techniques and access to agricultural inputs. The adoption of an adaptation strategy by a producer depends on his perception of climate change and its causes, its negative impacts on the environment and the means available to provide solutions.
This study aims to assess of importance of different environments (forest, river, planting, fallow, town and village) and categories of use and activities (fishing, hunting, pharmacopoeia, construction, ritual, food, tools and firewood) for the Batwa and Bantu living in Bikoro area. The interest of this study is to provide a comprehensive diagnosis that reflects the priorities and what is important from the perspective of forest people. To do so, comparative and synchronic study among the Bantu and Batwa in Iyanda and Moheli were conducted, two area in Lake Ntomba sector. Stones Distribution Method is applied to (SDM) methodology developed by CIFOR. So we thought that farming practice is likely to involve a reduction in the use of wild plants, the results of this study show that forests today still hold an important place in the daily lives of Batwa but also in that of their non-Pygmy neighbors. And that, including food: mushrooms and fruits are significant food supplements, which allow a more varied diet with the seasons. However, today, after a relatively old settlement and a long coexistence with non-pygmies, agriculture is also a priority.
The Pygmies are knowledgeable of the virtues of the biodiversity of their environment, including the food value of these species. This study report on food strategy developed by the Batwa and is based on a rich biodiversity. We conducted a household survey of 260 Batwa in five villages in Bikoro territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. The results of this survey show that 105 edible wild plants are recognized by the Batwa even if only 65 are actually used in the diet of the Batwa. Animal Genetic Resources and Other Non-timber Forest Products are also very diverse. However, there is currently in the region to a scarcity of natural resources, particularly due to the uncontrolled harvesting, expansion of agriculture due to strong population growth and logging.
This study reports on changes in traditional knowledge and know-how in Batwa communities due to livelihood changes especially due to cassava cultivation ownership. We compare Batwa (pygmies) and Ntomba (bantou) communities living in the two villages (Iyanda and Sekri) in Congolese jungle. Results revealed that Batwa communities have lost significant knowledge packages after they adopted bantou livelihood behavior. This situation should be well managed to avoid the complete loss of Batwa traditional knowledges and know-how.