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Défis liés aux conflits armés dans les aires protégées en Afrique : cas de quelques sites du patrimoine mondial
No full textArmed conflicts are increasingly impacting protected areas. New forms of armed conflict are emerging in Africa, posing risks to additional protected areas and necessitating changes in governance systems to cope with new stakeholders such as violent extremist groups and miners. These conflicts are not related solely to resource access and power; they are also rooted in ineffective governance systems that marginalise key stakeholders such as local communities and fail to enhance their resilience. As a result, armed conflicts have adversely affected both the protected areas and the local communities that depend on them, undermining the governance of the ecosystems involved. To address these challenges, it is important to understand the drivers of the armed conflicts affecting protected areas and to identify weaknesses in existing governance frameworks. Such an understanding can help key actors to adjust strategies to improve governance, minimise biodiversity loss, enhance ecosystem services, and strengthen the resilience of local communities.
This study aims to address the following research question: What factors drive the armed conflicts impacting natural World Heritage sites in Africa? Why do some responses succeed or fail in resolving these conflicts? What role does governance play in mitigating these impacts in a transboundary context? To respond to these questions, we conducted field observations and reviewed relevant literature through Scopus, Google Scholar and the UNESCO World Heritage database to analyse the governance structures of six natural World Heritage sites currently listed on the World Heritage in Danger owing to armed conflicts. These sites include Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park in the Central African Republic, as well as the Virunga, Kahuzi-Biega and Garamba national parks, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves in Niger. We then examined three distinct case studies exemplifying various contexts: i) the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which has been affected by armed conflict for over 25 years. In this reserve, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, utilizing a tailored questionnaire and spatial data tools (RAdar for Detecting Deforestation) to document illegal activities; ii) the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, a natural World Heritage site currently facing new forms of armed conflict in a transboundary context involving Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. Here, we administered an online questionnaire based on the Delphi technique; and iii) the Zakouma National Park in Chad, which has managed armed conflict effectively and aspires to World Heritage inscription. In this case, we analysed changes in the governance structure through questionnaires and a literature review. Our focus was on the economic, socio-political, environmental and psychological drivers of the armed conflicts influencing the management and governance of the targeted protected areas. The research indicates that protected areas as such are not the primary cause of armed conflicts but rather are affected by conflicts arising from a combination of five categories of insecurity drivers: institutional and political, environmental, economic, socio-cultural and religious, and psychological. Our findings underscore the significance of grasping the specific historical narratives and contexts that shaped the establishment of protected areas. This understanding is important for addressing any underlying conservation conflicts that could potentially lead to future armed disputes. Additionally, our results emphasise the need to enhance regional (supra-national) dynamics and coordinate development, conservation and military strategies within a transboundary framework. Adaptive governance systems and the reinforcement of local communities’ resilience are crucial for the successful resolution of armed conflicts. We recommend that long-term solutions for protected areas impacted by armed conflicts should engage local communities in the decision-making processes concerning these protected areas and strengthening their economic resilience.
Genetic, Epigenetic and Phenotypic analyses along a Continuum from ROHHAD to Monogenic Obesity Disorders linked to Hypothalamic dysregulation
No full textRapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, autonomic dysregulation and neural crest tumor (ROHHHAD[NET] is a rare pediatric disorder characterized by rapid-onset obesity and hypothalamic dysfunction. Despite its acronym suggesting a defined clinical entity, no formal diagnostic criteria have been validated, and recent findings support a broader ROHHAD spectrum, including adult-onset cases and presentations lacking rapid weight gain. Genetic, autoimmune, and paraneoplastic hypotheses have been explored without conclusive results. However, epigenetic mechanisms remain non investigated, despite observations such as discordant monozygotic twins, suggesting a role for epigenetic alterations. ROHHAD syndrome exemplify the complexity of rare forms of early-onset obesity, among which monogenic causes are few and often underdiagnosed, suggesting that other mechanisms, such as hypothalamic inflammation, environmental disturbances, and epigenetic alterations, may be relevant for these forms of early-onset obesity. The diagnostic yield for monogenic forms remains low as demonstrated by our study on real world evidence data in a cohort of 223 patients. Expanding genomic approaches may improve diagnostic yield and help delineate patients who could benefit from targeted therapies. This thesis aims to explore the genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic continuum between ROHHAD and monogenic hypothalamic obesities, contributing to a better understanding of the ROHHAD condition and the early-onset obesities.3. Good health and well-bein
Scientific writing in text format with Markdown
No full textLa réflexion à propos de nos méthodes d'écriture, de nos formats et de nos outils est alimentée par la science ouverte : des formats et des outils ouverts, une démarche Low Tech : est-ce que c’est utile, facilement accessible et durable ? les principes de l'édition numérique ouverte (de bout en bout), la nécessité de reprendre le contrôle face à l'impératif fonctionnel et le capitalisme de surveillance des grandes entreprises du numérique.12. Responsible consumption and production9. Industry, innovation and infrastructur
Introduction à Google Earth Engine [atelier d'un jour; National Taiwan Normal University]
No full textAnthropogenic Disturbance Factors in the Ouémé Supérieur Classified Forest in Northern Benin
No full textpeer reviewedThe increasing dependence of rural communities on forest resources contributes significantly to deforestation and ecosystem degradation in West Africa. The Ouémé Supérieur Classified Forest (OSCF), one of Benin’s largest forest reserves, is under growing anthropogenic pressure. This study assessed the spatial distribution and relationships between key degradation drivers (anthropogenic disturbances)—logging, agriculture, charcoal production, fire, and grazing—in the OSCF. Field inventories were conducted in 300 plots of 500 m2 each, organized across 15 transects. Data were analyzed using presence/absence indices, frequency calculations, Friedman tests, simple correspondence analysis, and linear regressions. Results showed that disturbances are unevenly distributed across the forest. Logging and agriculture emerged as the most frequent pressures, with agricultural activities strongly associated with transects near densely populated villages. Regression analysis revealed a relatively strong correlation between distance from edge to the interior of the forest and agricultural area (adjusted R2 = 0.61). Logging and fire-related activities are concentrated at the forest edge, while agriculture expanded toward the interior. Logging is present in all plots sampled. Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between agriculture, charcoal production, and fire. These findings highlight the complex and interlinked nature of the anthropogenic disturbances and underscore the need for locally tailored, participatory forest management strategies
The formation of a Liège National Convention between 1792 and 1793: a political and legal novelty?
No full texteditorial reviewe
Facteurs environnementaux influançant la distribution des amphibiens dans les Hautes Fagnes
No full textpeer reviewed14. Life below wate
Changer les mentalités, sauver des vies : comment la formation à la sécurité psychologique transforme les soins en santé.
No full textpeer reviewedPsychological safety is a crucial component in highly functioning healthcare teams, enabling every member to speak up, take innovative risks and admit mistakes without fear of personal attack or repercussions. Leaders play a significant role in fostering this positive environment that boosts effective communication, enhances teamwork and decision-making and promotes incident reporting. Developing these non-technical skills, along with updated medical knowledge and procedural skills, is a key factor in providing better and safer patient care.Creating and sustaining psychological safety in the workplace requires a cultural and mindset shift that impacts how team members interact with each other. The anaesthesia teams from seven VinMec Healthcare System (VMHS) hospitals across Vietnam faced several critical challenges, including cultural embeddedness, geographical dispersion and a hierarchical structure where deference prevailed.Nonetheless, VMHS leadership established a goal to transform the Anaesthesia and Pain Management Department into one of the safest in Southeast Asia. A multifaceted team comprised of top management, training experts and simulation specialists was essential in driving the initiative forward.The intervention highlights the importance of leadership engagement, structured curriculum design and feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement in staff competency and collaboration. Over 18 months, 112 anaesthesia doctors and nurses completed a series of online learning modules and on-site simulation training sessions. Preliminary outcomes indicate significant progress in non-technical skills such as communication, teamwork and cognitive aid utilisation among participants. There has also been a noticeable reduction in patient safety incident scores across hospitals.This article presents a replicable model for addressing the cultural, practical and logistical challenges of integrating psychological safety into a large healthcare system by introducing an innovative, mixed-method training programme. It provides insights for healthcare leaders seeking to achieve sustainable improvements in patient safety and quality of care.3. Good health and well-bein