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To Reafforest in the Tropics. Le sanctuaire de gorilles de Lossi constitue une expérience sur la synergie entre la recherche scientifique et la conservation de la nature. Trois parties prenantes sont impliquées dans un processus de gestion participative: l'Etat congolais, la communauté autochtone représentée par l'association des ayants droits des terres de Lossi et le programme européen sur les écosystèmes forestiers d'Afrique centrale. Une enquête de terrain a été effectuée sur le site de Lossi en 2003; elle avait comme objectif d'étudier les effets générés par la gestion participative et d'identifier les contraintes liées à l'exécution de cette approche participative en milieu réel. Les travaux de recherche sur la primatologie ont abouti à l'habituation des gorilles à la présence humaine, ce qui a conduit à la création d'un tourisme de vision de gorilles de plaine de l'Ouest. Un camp de touristes a été construit, ainsi que l'ouverture de la route d'accès au sanctuaire. Le tourisme a généré des emplois en faveur de la population locale qui est aussi prestataire de contrats sur les travaux de réfection des routes. Une partie des revenus a permis la construction d'un centre de santé intégré. Cependant, les travaux de recherche scientifique et le tourisme ont été ralentis pendant l'apparition de la fièvre hémorragique d'Ebola et pendant les trois épisodes de la guerre civile. La consolidation et le long terme de cette entreprise de cogestion du patrimoine naturel de Lossi consiste en l'établissement d'un plan d'aménagement et de gestion, qui concilie la conservation, le développement rural et la recherche scientifique tout en garantissant une répartition équitable des revenus entre les trois partenaires.

Fruit Trees Contribution to Food Security in Tropical Urban Environment: Instance of Commune of Limete in Kinshasa- Democratic Republic of Congo. Problems of hunger and malnutrition in urban environnements force the populations to exploit all the food resources available. This work investigates the contribution to the diet of the population of the edible fruits produced by the 19 species of trees found in a district of Kinshasa. An investigation carried out in 1.09% of the 18,475 household plots of the commune of Limete permitted to estimate at approximately 47,000 feet the number of trees planted there and their annual production at approximately 4.087 tons. The six main species (Mangifera indica, Persea americana, Elaeis guineensis, Carica papaya, Dacryodes edulis and Musa paradisiaca) account on their own for an approximate total of 36,400 feet. The contribution of these species to the population alimentation was estimated respectively at 10.9 g, 6.1 g, 4.5 g, 4.4 g, 1.8 g and 0.6 g of fruits per person and per day. The control of certain environmental- friendly techniques and environmental education relating to the trees in urban environment should increase the importance of this contribution.

Raising of the Mole-rat (Cryptomys mechowi, Rodent: Bathyergidae) at Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The mole-rat, Cryptomys mechowi, has been captured in the grassy savanna of the tray of the Bateke to be submitted to raising in captivity at the laboratory of the Biology Department in the University of Kinshasa. This small wild underground mammal, very appreciated by the population, is victim of overexploitation for its delicious meat. The raising of this rodent could reconcile the safeguard of the species on the one hand and the domestic protein source for the population of the tray of the Bateke on the other hand. On the whole, 21 animals of which 8 couples and 5 youngs have been captured on the tray of the Bateke. Out of these 8 couples, 5 died in the first week of raising in the laboratory, 3 couples and all 5 kids survived until the end of the experience. The 3 surviving couples gave birth each during 1 year of raising test to litters with better size from 1 to 3 kids for the 3 couples. This numeric growth rate demonstrates the possibility of raising this small underground rodent in captivity. The feeding in the laboratory is based on tubers easily obtainable through all markets of the capital. It is the case for cassavas and sweet potatoes.

Behaviour and Performance of Eight Lines of Rainfed Rice Selected at Yangambi. Eight lines of upland rice selected after preliminary trials in Yangambi were studied in order to identify the most impressive, which could be used as cultivated varieties. Yield and yield components, grain quality (granular characteristics and translucency of albumen) and the reaction to laying and to most common diseases (pyriculariosis and rynchosporiosis) were criterions of separation. Results revealed that four lines (one pubescent and three non-pubescent) showed high yield (equal to or higher than 3 tons/ha), consequence of good expression of two genetic characteristics linked to yield. These lines presented also good albumen translucency and good resistance to common rice diseases and laying. Therefore they can be selected as cultivated varieties.

A simulation model was developed to describe the transformations of C and N in the soil. The aim of this study was to validate the concept of fractionating organic residues into pools of different decomposability in order to describe the residue quality. All the data obtained were compiled in the mathematical model and the simulated data were compared with measured data of C- and N-mineralization and soil microbial biomass. According to the different standard deviation values, the simulation was termed "perfect", "adequate" or "poor" and in our experiment, all the curves of C-mineralization were "perfectly" fitted with the model used.

Compared Pedological Characteristics of Termite Mounds under Primary Forests of Yangambi Platform in Congolese Central Basin. Some pedological characteristics of five identified termite mounds under primary forests of Yangambi platform in congolese central basin are compared with those of host soil series. Five termite mounds are conical shaped (tcn) of Noditermes cristifrons Sjöst., hat-shaped (tch) of Cubitermes speciosus Sjöst., semi-arboricolous (tsa) of Apilitermes longiceps Sjöst., dome-shaped (tdo) of Thoracotermes macrothorax Sjöst. and hill-shaped (tco) of Macrotermes muellai Sjöst. Four host soil series are Yambaw (Y0), Yangambi (Y1), Yakonde (Y2) and Yambeli (YL); they are more colonized by termite mounds and more farmed by peasants of Yangambi region. The achieved results show that termite mounds are more fertile than host soil series. Among five identified termite mounds, three are interesting as sources of fertilizers: tsa, tch and tdo. Particularly for the tco, analytical values are comparable to those of the host soil series. For practical applications, tsa is identified as better source of soil fertility for rice sown to vegetables and tdo for amaranth. Combined with dried peanut straw, tcn obtained best results on amaranth. Termite mounds are abundant in rainforest of Yangambi platform and their fertility is high compared to that of host soil series. They may be of interest as sources of soil fertility at small scale vegetables growing.

Inventory of Vegetal Species Cultivated in Plots Gardens in Urban Environment. Instance of Limete Commune-Kinshasa- Democratic Republic of Congo. A survey carried out in 201 plots of the "commune" of Limete permitted to inventoriate nineteen species of cultivated vegetables and 764 plants of 18 fruit-tree species planted or kept in this area. Mangifera indica is the most planted tree species and Ipomoae batatas is the most frequently cultivated vegetable species. Promoted and supported, this urban agriculture can modify the town ecosystem characteristics with a vegetation able to purify the air, to regulate the climate, to restore soil fertility and to provide vegetables and fruits to the population.

Use of Cockroach and Termites as Potential Substitutes of Meal Meat in Broilers Feeding, in South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The objective of this study is to compare some economic and zootechnical parameters obtained by broilers fed with locally prepared rations, with commercial ration or with a local ration with 20% meal meat. The meal meat is very expensive on the local market. The locally prepared and used rations contain 4.8 and 12% of incorpored cockroach meal or 4.8 and 12% of termites meal. The use of 8 and 12% containing cockroach meal rations and those containing 12% of termites meal give satisfactory result in terms of return on investment (ranging between 60 and 100%) and mean gain weight, both significant with respect to commercial rations from Tanzania and local rations containing 20% of incorpored meal meat. These rations are profitable, cheaper than commercial rations; they can be adopted by chickens breeders in order to improve profitability in the farming of birds in South-Kivu.

A lixisol was amended with four different alley cropping species: Senna siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Dactyladenia barteri and Flemingia macrophylla. Soil samples were incubated for 140 days at 25 °C and the soil microbial biomass was determined by the ninhydrin extraction method along the incubation period. The soil microbial biomass values ranged between 80 and 600 mg.kg-1 and followed, in all cases, the decreasing order: Leucaena> Senna> Flemingia> Dactyladenia.

'Diversity in Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis spp.) in Vietnam and Their Potential for the Biocontrol of Pest Insects'. Les problèmes de sous-alimentation et de malnutrition en milieu urbain poussent les populations à exploiter toutes les ressources alimentaires disponibles. Ce travail s'intéresse à la contribution au régime alimentaire de la population des fruits comestibles produits par les 19 espèces d'arbres trouvés à Kinshasa. Une enquête réalisée dans 1,09% des 18.475 parcelles de la commune de Limete a permis d'estimer à environ 47.000 pieds le nombre d'arbres plantés dans celles-ci et leur production annuelle à environ 4.087 tonnes. Les six espèces majeures (Mangifera indica, Persea americana, Elaeis guineensis, Carica papaya, Dacryodes edulis et Musa paradisiaca) comptent à elles seules pour un total approximatif de 36.400 pieds. La contribution de ces espèces à l'alimentation de la population a été estimée respectivement à 10,9 g; 6,1 g; 4,5 g; 4,4 g; 1,8 g et 0,6 g de fruits par personne et par jour. La maîtrise de certaines écotechniques et l'éducation environnementale relative aux "arbres en ville" devraient accroître l'importance de cette contribution.