Field-Based Environmental Vigilance Profiles Associated with Rural Activities in the Pool Department, Republic of the Congo
Abstract
Local environmental planning requires diagnostic tools capable of identifying areas and activities that may place pressure on soils, fragile environments and water resources before these pressures become measurable deforestation or forest degradation. This study characterises environmental vigilance profiles associated with rural activities in seven localities of the Pool Department, Republic of the Congo, using 178 completed field-observation records collected in 2024 by the doctoral researcher and subsequently checked and verified by Ifo Suspense Averti. The analysis is restricted to environmental and territorial records describing activity types, localities, proximity to rivers or water points, field-recorded indicators affecting fragile environments and water bodies, soil instability and potential conflicts. No respondent-level social or perceived-risk data and no direct biophysical measurements of erosion, soil compaction or water quality were used. Agriculture dominates most localities, whilst Mindouli displays a mixed agro-pastoral profile, Koubola a distinctive pastoral profile, and Yalavounga, Yangui and Linzolo very high hydrological sensitivity. Field-recorded indicators affecting fragile environments and water resources are especially frequent in Missafou, Yalavounga and Linzolo. The paper proposes a qualitative environmental vigilance typology distinguishing multi-activity hydrological-risk, agricultural-riparian/hydrological, mixed agro-pastoral and pastoral profiles. This screening typology offers a practical basis for prioritising local monitoring, riparian protection and agroecological land-use planning, but it should not be interpreted as a measured probability of environmental damage.
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