The politics of forest governance failure in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): lessons from 35 years of political rivalries

Abstract

International audience• Forest governance reforms in DRC have been dominated by the interests of powerful actors, such as the World Bank and political elites. • The most powerful international actors use incentives/disincentives and information to consolidate their influence. • Powerful international actors have exacerbated the crisis of forest governance in DRC. • Politicians, military and administrative officers in DRC resort to 'cunning government' strategies to obtain support from donors or assert their informal interests in times of political unrest. • The context of political disorder allows civil society organizations to position themselves and become one of the key actor groups of forest governance processes in DRC