Farming fragile ecosystems: Rethinking agriculture in the Congolese marshlands for sustainable management and secure livelihoods

Introduction Wetlands are among the most critical and produc­tive ecosystems, providing a wide range of ecosys­tem services that support ecological stability and the livelihoods of many communities (Chuma et al., 2024; Johnes et al., 2020). Recent research by Chuma et al. (2024) has developed a typology of wetlands in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), differentiating between peatlands, swamps, inland valleys, and marshes. In this viewpoint, I focus on marshes—fragile ecosystems character­ized by water-saturated soils and dominated by herbaceous plants such as grasses and reeds—which are cleared and drained annually to establish crop fields in eastern DRC. Marshlands contain rich alluvial soils with high organic matter and nutrient content, enriched by runoff from nearby hills, making them lands of economic and agro­nomic interest for rural communities (Johnes et al., 2020; Verhoeven & Setter, 2010). But what drives the use of marshland areas in South Kivu Province, DRC, despite their status as fragile ecosystems intended to be preserved? . . .