Exploring the Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Restoring and Managing Miombo Woodlands: A Case Study from the Lubumbashi Charcoal Production Basin, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

The over-exploitation of forest resources in the Lubumbashi Charcoal Production Basin in south-eastern DRC is accelerating deforestation and miombo woodlands degradation, jeopardizing the livelihoods of local communities. In this situation, current forestry policies remain ineffective, not least due to the failure to integrate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). This study explores this knowledge through focus groups and individual interviews in four villages (Maksem, Mwawa, Nsela and Texas), selected according to the availability of forest resources and the number of inhabitants. Interviews gathered data on sacred sites and trees, conservation practices, the transmission of traditional knowledge, the role of ceremonies and the socio-demographic determinants of their application. These data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (citation frequency), Fisher's exact test for associations between variables, and Jaccard's similarity index to compare villages. The results show that 75% of people surveyed in both types of villages were aware of sacred sites in their village, as opposed to cemeteries, where logging is forbidden. Thirty sacred wood species were identified, with stricter observance of related prohibitions in villages with a high availability of forest resources. Knowledge is transmitted orally, via family councils and traditional ceremonies. Conservation practices include small-scale farming, intercropping, the ban on cutting trees on sacred sites and the use of dead wood. However, only the first two are still widely practiced, especially in villages with limited resources (64%). These practices are mainly applied by women and the elderly, and those involved in charcoal production and the collection of non-timber forest products. Nevertheless, the application of these TEK is strongly affected by population growth and the consequent low availability of forest resources, amplifying the pressure on miombo woodlands. These results underline that the integration of this traditional ecological knowledge into DRC forestry policies would significantly strengthen forest restoration initiatives, through a fine-tuned understanding of local ecosystems, sustainable practices and key woody species, while fostering community involvement. Decision-makers must integrate these TEK into DRC forest policy to strengthen biodiversity conservation and miombo woodlands restoration efforts.