By Christian OBAME -


Au-delà du comptage : loxodontophisme et enjeux géopolitiques de la conservation des éléphants de forêt du Gabon

Beyond counting: loxodontophism and geopolitical issues in the conservation of forest elephants in Gabon

Résumé / Abstract

FR –
Les enjeux géopolitiques internationaux qui sous-tendent le recensement des éléphants de forêt en Afrique centrale mettent en lumière l’importance stratégique de cette démarche pour la région. À travers le cas du Gabon, cette étude montre comment les données environnementales peuvent être instrumentalisées au profit d’intérêts étatiques, et comment les biais méthodologiques de comptage influencent les politiques de conservation. L’auteur introduit le concept de « loxodontophisme », défini comme l’usage calculé des chiffres pour légitimer des choix politiques. En s’appuyant sur la political ecology, cette recherche révèle que la production de données ne vise pas uniquement la préservation de la biodiversité, mais contribue également à renforcer l’autorité étatique et le contrôle territorial, parfois au détriment des populations locales.

AN –
The international geopolitical stakes underlying the census of forest elephants in Central Africa highlight the strategic importance of this process for the region. Through the case study of Gabon, this research demonstrates how environmental data can be instrumentalized to serve state interests, and how methodological biases in counting shape conservation policies. The author introduces the concept of “loxodontophism,” defined as the calculated use of figures to legitimize political choices. Drawing on the framework of political ecology, this study reveals that data production is not only aimed at biodiversity conservation but also serves to consolidate state authority and territorial control, sometimes marginalizing local populations affected by these policies.

Figures

Figure 1. Localisation du PN de Minkébé et des principales aires protégées de la région



Figure 2. Densité moyenne des éléphants au km² au Gabon en 2021




Mots-clés / Keywords

FR – conservation, éléphant de forêt, loxodontophisme, gouvernance environnementale, political ecology, Gabon, conflit homme-faune, instrumentalisation des données
AN – conservation, forest elephant, loxodontophism, environmental governance, political ecology, Gabon, human-wildlife conflict, data instrumentalization

Auteur / Author

STÉPHANE ONDO ZE
Docteur en géopolitique, post-doctorant LabEx DynamiTe, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne / Université Omar Bongo (Gabon)

Source / Publication

Éditeur : UMR245-CESSMA
Date de publication : 09 avril 2026

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