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
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.