Operationalizing epistemic justice: Participatory 3D Modelling in conservation practice

This article examines the transformative potential of Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling (P3DM) as a tool to operationalize epistemic justice in conservation, focusing on its application in the Itombwe Nature Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo. Epistemic justice demands the recognition, inclusion, and equitable treatment of marginalized knowledge systems, particularly Indigenous and local epistemologies, in environmental sciences. Drawing on conservation governance literature on community participation, existing studies on Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling, and political ecology’s focus on epistemic justice, this study evaluates the extent to which Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling bridges power asymmetries through the promotion of traditional ecological knowledge. Through participant observation during a pilot P3DM exercise in 2016, constant engagement with the process aftermaths over four years, and a follow-up mission in 2020, the article highlights the dual promise and pitfalls of participatory approaches. Using criteria for epistemic justice (recognition, procedural equity, redistributive justice, and reflexive justice), this study critically assesses Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling as an opportunity to foster inclusive conservation governance. Our findings reveal that Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling facilitated indigenous knowledge recognition, intergenerational information transfer, and the identification of culturally and ecologically significant areas. However, systemic barriers—including unequal power dynamics, insufficient follow-up, and logistical constraints—limited its transformative potential. This article contributes to advancing participatory conservation governance by illustrating the practical and ethical challenges of bridging diverse knowledge systems in a contested landscape. It underscores the need for long-term investment, robust governance frameworks, and sustained collaboration to ensure participatory tools deliver equitable ecological and social outcomes. By situating Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling within broader efforts to decolonize environmental sciences, this study provides actionable insights for making sustainability science more inclusive and justice-oriented.