Congo Basin, Part 2: Can we right the wrongs of fortress conservation?

<p>The debate about how to best protect the Congo Basin's rainforest increasingly finds experts and Indigenous leaders arguing that it's time for a change, one that brings local and Indigenous people into the conversation.</p> <p>Fortress conservation, a model exported to Africa during the colonial era, typically expels local people from land they once relied on for food, fiber and medicine, but experts argue the concept that this model uses <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> –</span> that of a 'pristine wilderness' untouched by humans <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> –</span> is a flawed construct. Many protected areas in Africa still use this conservation model, though, to the detriment of local people, sometimes resulting in violence. </p> <p>On this episode of Mongabay Explores the Congo Basin, we interview lawyer and Goldman Prize-winner <strong>Samuel Nguiffo</strong>, Mongabay features writer <strong>Ashoka Mukpo</strong>, and conservation and Indigenous relations expert <strong>Vedaste Cituli</strong> about the legacy of fortress conservation in the Congo Basin, how the militarization of rangers has exacerbated tension with local people, and potential pathways forward to return some conservation control to local and Indigenous populations.</p> <p>Find the first three seasons of Mongabay Explores –<strong> </strong>where we explored Sumatra, New Guinea, and more –<strong> </strong>via the podcast provider of your choice, or locate all episodes of the Mongabay Explores podcast on our podcast homepage <a href= "https://news.mongabay.com/series/mongabay-explores-podcast/">here</a>. </p> <p><