Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Conservation Strategy 2012–2022

29

Threats

Spatial 

scope

Level of 

impact

Score

Reversibility

Insufficient subsistence alternatives

5

1

6

1

Development of infrastructure networks (roads, 

railways)

1

3

4

5

Human population growth

3

1

4

3

Maringa-Lopori-Wamba

Threats

Spatial 

scope

Level of 

impact

Score

Reversibility

Direct threats

Poaching

5

3

8

3

Habitat loss

1

3

4

5

Disease

5

1

6

3

Indirect threats

Bushmeat trade

5

3

8

3

Availability of guns and ammunition

5

3

8

3

Agricultural expansion

1

5

6

3

Legal industrial logging

1

5

6

1

Illegal industrial logging

1

1

2

3

Artisanal forest exploitation (charcoal, timber)

5

1

6

5

Lack of law enforcement

5

5

10

3

Ignorance of the law

5

3

8

1

Non-respect of the law

5

3

8

3

Lack of understanding of conservation issues

5

3

8

3

Insufficient commitment by local 

administrative authorities

5

5

10

1

Insufficient commitment by stakeholders (local 

communities)

3

5

8

1

Insufficient subsistence alternatives

5

3

8

3

Development of infrastructure networks 

(roads, railways)

0

0

0

0

Human population growth

5

3

8

3

Typical bonobo habitat: mixed 

mature forest with Haumania 

understorey © Gay Reinartz/

ZSM

Table, Sankuru-TL2, continued from previous page

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30

Summary (averages) for the four blocks

Threats

Salonga

Sankuru-

TL2

Maringa-

Lopori-

Wamba

Lac 

Tumba

Average 

for spatial 

scope and 

level of 

impact

Average for 

reversibility

Direct threats

Poaching

8

8

8

6

7.5

3

Habitat loss

2

4

4

8

4.5

3.3

Disease

2

2

6

8

4.5

1.5

Indirect threats

Bushmeat trade

8

10

8

8

8.5

2.5

Availability of guns and 

ammunition

8

10

8

8

8.5

3

Lack of law 

enforcement

8

8

10

6

8

2.25

Insufficient subsistence 

alternatives

6

6

8

10

7.5

2.5

Non-respect of the law

6

6

8

8

7

2.5

Lack of understanding 

of conservation issues

8

4

8

8

7

2

Ignorance of the law

6

4

8

8

6.5

1.75

Insufficient commitment 

from stakeholders (local 

communities)

4

4

8

8

6

1.5

Agricultural expansion

4

6

6

6

5.5

2.5

Insufficient 

commitment from 

local administrative 

authorities

6

2

10

4

5.5

1.5

Legal industrial logging

6

2

6

8

5.5

1.5

Human population 

growth

6

3

8

6

5.8

3

Artisanal forest 

exploitation (charcoal, 

timber)

3

0

6

8

4.25

2.25

Illegal industrial logging

2

0

2

6

2.5

1.75

Development of 

infrastructure networks 

(roads, railways)

2

4

0

4

2.5

2.75

Direct threats 

•  Poaching is without question the most serious threat in terms of spatial scope and 

level of impact (7.5). Its impact is reversible but only with great difficulty and several 

decades of bonobo population recovery (3);

•  Habitat loss is currently lower in terms of spatial scope and level of impact (4.5), but it 

will be difficult to reverse, especially when caused by industrial agriculture, mining or 

human settlements, none of which are easily removed once installed (3.3);

•  At the present time, disease has a low spatial scope and level of impact (3.5) and is 

considered to be more easily reversible (1.5). Given that known impact to date has 

been limited, disease is seen more as a potential threat.

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