The Practices of Eco-guards During Patrols in Kundelungu National Park in Haut-Katanga

The protection of natural resources in protected areas is characterized, on the one hand, by the application of legal instruments for environmental protection, and on the other hand, it reveals the hidden side of operations within the various organizations involved. From a criminological perspective, this study offers a comprehensive analysis of the practices carried out by eco-guards during patrols in Kundelungu National Park (KNP), based on an immersion in the daily lives of eco-guards at the Katwe station, which houses the park’s headquarters. The analysis of the collected data reveals two categories of field practices: so-called formal practices and informal practices. These two categories illustrate how field actors can carry out actions tinged with both formal and informal elements, while remaining within their daily duties, thus forming a complex reality of field operations. These practices call into question the effectiveness of public policy on biodiversity protection in the DRC, as outlined in Law No. 14/003 of February 11, 2014, concerning the protection and conservation of nature, as well as the efficiency of the work performed by eco-guards in protected areas. They also raise deeper questions about the challenges and issues surrounding the management of the nature conservation sector, biodiversity, and personnel administration in parks across the DRC.