International cooperation and conflict in a social-ecological system: study of mountain gorillas as a common pool resource

Mallick, Urmila Basu, Masozera, Anna Behm, Ruzigandekwe, Fidele, Teferi, Taye, Koliba, Christopher, Sandford, Luke and Martin, Adrian (2026) International cooperation and conflict in a social-ecological system: study of mountain gorillas as a common pool resource. Conservation Science and Practice. pp. 1-16. ISSN 2578-4854

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Abstract

The endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla dependent on habitat shared by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Rwanda, and Republic of Uganda, and is considered here as a common pool resource. The intergovernmental framework established by Treaty as the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) has exhibited adaptability and resilience in a sustained medium-level conflict context but is yet to achieve high-level cooperation for gorilla conservation. A combined Institutional Analysis and Development and Social-Ecological Systems framework analysis illuminates changes to key variables influencing cooperation over time, notably the increased number and value of habituated mountain gorilla groups, and a growing number of actors and associated interests. Our findings highlight that operational rules and norms for cooperation did not change as expected over time in response to changes to other variables in the social-ecological system. The forthcoming species conservation action planning process would benefit from (a) formal affirmation and/or renegotiation of discrete agreements related to operational rules and norms, facilitated by the GVTC, (b) the re-creation of a broad coalition of networked actors for collaborative and long-term mountain gorilla conservation, and (c) agreed social performance measures relevant for the resource system.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	gorilla beringei beringei,transboundary conservation,institutional analysis and development framework,greater virunga transboundary collaboration
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development) University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Global Environmental Justice
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	21 May 2026 16:09
Last Modified:	21 May 2026 16:09
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/103132
DOI:	10.1111/csp2.70288

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