IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v10y2026i2p7074-7091.html

Household Dependence on Edible Caterpillars and Their Socio- Economic Implications in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Evidence from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve

Author

Listed:
  • Nchinda Nelson Kekoh*

    (PhD in Public Policy and Sports Diplomacy, Johannesburg City College)

  • Barika David Ngwa

    (MSc, Tropical Forestry and Management, University of Technology Dresden, Tharandt, Germany; Forests and Livelihoods, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Plant Ecology, University of Yaoundé I)

Abstract

Edible caterpillars are an important non-timber forest product in the Congo Basin, supporting rural household income, food security, and seasonal livelihood diversification. This study quantifies household dependence on edible caterpillars in eight villages surrounding the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve and assesses their socioeconomic contributions, harvesting practices, ecological impacts, and perceived effects of climatic variability. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, combining structured household surveys (n = 46), key informant interviews, Rapid Rural Appraisal tools, focus group discussions, and forest inventories. Results indicate that edible caterpillars contribute an average of 32% to seasonal household income (July–October), rising to 48% among low-wealth households, functioning as a critical safety net during agricultural lean periods. Dependence is significantly higher among low-wealth households (χ² = 15.23, df = 4, p

Suggested Citation

  • Nchinda Nelson Kekoh* & Barika David Ngwa, 2026. "Household Dependence on Edible Caterpillars and Their Socio- Economic Implications in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Evidence from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 10(2), pages 7074-7091, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:10:y:2026:i:2:p:7074-7091
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/uploads/vol10-iss2-pg7074-7091-202603_pdf.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/view/household-dependence-on-edible-caterpillars-and-their-socio-economic-implications-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-evidence-from-the-yangambi-biosphere-reserve/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ernestine Lonpi Tipi & Médard Mpanda Mukenza & Yannick Useni Sikuzani & Jean-Pierre Messina Ndzomo & Raoul Sambieni Kouagou & François Malaisse & Joseph Lumande Kasali & Damase Khasa & Jan Bogaert, 2025. "Dynamics and Anthropisation of Edible Caterpillar Habitats in the Landscape of the Luki Biosphere Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      More about this item

      Statistics

      Access and download statistics

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:10:y:2026:i:2:p:7074-7091. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.