Land Rights and the Forest Peoples of Africa
Land Rights and the Forest Peoples of Africa
Land Rights and the Forest Peoples of Africa
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<strong>L<strong>and</strong></strong> rights <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> – Introduction<br />
Introduction<br />
The study on l<strong>and</strong><br />
rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest<br />
peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, its<br />
purpose <strong>and</strong> findings<br />
This composite publication 1<br />
presents <strong>and</strong> complements a<br />
study conducted on <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong><br />
rights <strong>of</strong> indigenous peoples in<br />
five countries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> forested<br />
region <strong>of</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, namely<br />
Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic<br />
Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo (DRC),<br />
Rw<strong>and</strong>a <strong>and</strong> Ug<strong>and</strong>a. Building<br />
on historical facts <strong>and</strong> legal<br />
developments, <strong>the</strong> study<br />
highlights indigenous peoples’<br />
loss <strong>of</strong> resources <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> to<br />
colonists, commercial enterprises<br />
<strong>and</strong> conservation initiatives. It also describes how, having been dispossessed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
ancestral l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong>, in many cases, not allocated alternative l<strong>and</strong>, indigenous forest peoples<br />
in <strong>Africa</strong> today live in extremely vulnerable conditions <strong>and</strong> experience marginalisation <strong>and</strong><br />
poverty.<br />
Research in <strong>the</strong> five countries took place in 2008 <strong>and</strong> was published in 2009. The authors<br />
analysed <strong>the</strong> main legal developments since <strong>the</strong> pre-colonial period that have affected<br />
indigenous property <strong>and</strong> access to l<strong>and</strong>. 2 The findings have been discussed with field-based<br />
organisations working to promote indigenous rights, <strong>and</strong> in some cases <strong>the</strong>se organisations<br />
have contributed considerably to <strong>the</strong>ir content. The studies retrace in history <strong>the</strong> manner in<br />
which territory was acquired by <strong>the</strong> state according to international law <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> consequences<br />
for traditional ‘Pygmy’ forest-dwelling hunter–ga<strong>the</strong>rer peoples (Batwa, Bacwa, Bambuti,<br />
Bagyeli, Baka, Ba’Aka, Baaka), hereafter referred to as ‘indigenous peoples’. They thus reveal<br />
<strong>the</strong> manner in which <strong>the</strong> territory was acquired under <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coloniser, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
consequences <strong>of</strong> this for indigenous peoples. Specific attention was paid to <strong>the</strong> incorporation<br />
or non-incorporation <strong>of</strong> customary law as a source <strong>of</strong> law. Post-colonial <strong>and</strong> independence<br />
law was also examined with a view to tracing any legislation that can amount to a plain <strong>and</strong><br />
clear intent to extinguish prior rights <strong>of</strong> first/previous occupants <strong>and</strong>/or rights arising by<br />
virtue <strong>of</strong> customary law. Post-independence <strong>and</strong> contemporary law <strong>and</strong> jurisprudence as well<br />
as international human rights law also fell within <strong>the</strong> scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> research.<br />
1<br />
The study <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> rights <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> is a composite publication <strong>of</strong> five country studies<br />
booklets. This document is an addition to <strong>the</strong> studies, providing context through describing <strong>the</strong> indigenous<br />
peoples <strong>of</strong> Central <strong>Africa</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> international human rights law st<strong>and</strong>ards applicable to l<strong>and</strong> rights.<br />
2<br />
The authors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five country studies are: Jean-Pierre Amani – Burundi; Samuel Nguiffo, Nadine Mballa<br />
<strong>and</strong> Pierre Etienne Kenfack – Cameroon; Prosper Nobirabo – DRC; Chris Huggins – Rw<strong>and</strong>a; <strong>and</strong> Rose<br />
Nakayi – Ug<strong>and</strong>a. Their studies are published in separate booklets.<br />
Couillard & Gilbert 1<br />
April 2009