The quality of life of Baka, Bakola and Bagyeli people is closely linked to the well-being of the forest and its resources, and, more crucially, their ability to access them. Legal rights to subsistence activities are often abused by authorities, and they have very few further rights to the forests in law, and no official tenure over their ancestral forest lands. They have thus become increasingly impoverished and are rarely recognised by the authorities leading to social and economic marginalisation, and extreme vulnerability.

The project, which is implemented by the Yaounde-based organisation, Centre for Environment and Development, is reaching at least 20 Baka and Bagyeli communities throughout Cameroon, by working with 8 local community groups. CED supports groups to work with communities to plan and carry out projects together. For example, AFFEBEN an organisation in the east is helping a Baka community to set up a shop in which non timber forest products (such as wild mangos) can be exchanged for salt, soap and other everyday essentials. When enough products have been stocked they are taken to the market in Yokadoma and sold, fetching far better prices than sale at the roadside. The benefits are then divided between the shop for restocking and the providers.

The projects all include basic training about civil rights, how to obtain official documentation such as birth certificates and national identity cards, and what they are for. Many organisations have handed out identity cards in the past but not explained why they are necessary for accessing basic services such as health and education, and enabling travel. One organisation, CADDAP, has worked in three communities to explain the value of their identity documents which had been handed out by another organisation. The projects also include a range of other actions, such as campaigning to have Baka chiefs officially recognised and helping Baka communities to get legal title to some lands in the form of a community forest.

Mapping of forest ‘territories’ by Baka communities can serve to demonstrate their long-term use of forest resources and presence in areas used for other, possibly conflicting, purposes such as commercial logging. The project will also support participatory mapping by Baka people of the forests surrounding their settlements, which have traditionally been used for hunting and gathering. The community maps produced by communities in Djoum, Southern Cameroon, are the first that have ever been produced by forest people in a central African country.

Choose a project Select A new law recognising the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Congo Ambohimahamasina - Madagascar Ashaninka Territorial Security - Peru Baka Rights and Mapping - Cameroon Cameroon Education Project Capacity Strengthening - DRC Community Legal Field Workers - Cameroon Forest Policy Monitoring and Lobbying- Gabon Mapping project - DRC NGO input to AFLEG - Congo Basin NGO Input to the new DRC Forestry Laws Social Impacts of Logging Strengthening the Rights of Pygmy People Support to Ogiek Welfare Council Upper Mazaruni Land Claim - Guyana Yekwana and Sanema - Venezuela