Displacement and discrimination devastating forest dwellers
Across the forests of central Africa, forest peoples have lived by hunting and gathering for millenia. But in the past few decades their homelands have been devastated by logging, war and encroachment from farmers.
With expansion of protected areas in response to these problems, their livelihoods have become increasingly impossible and their strong ties to their forests are under strain.
A central factor behind many of the problems faced by forest peoples is racism.
Their egalitarian social structures are often not respected by neighbouring communities or international companies and organisations which value strong (male) leaders.
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| © Salomé/Survival |
The forest peoples’ intimate connection to the forests was once valued and respected by other societies, but is now derided.
To many farming and herding communities across the region, the forest peoples – who have neither land nor cattle – are seen as ‘backward’, impoverished or ‘inferior’ and are often treated as ‘untouchable’.
In an attempt to decrease ethnic conflicts, several African governments, such as Rwanda and DRC, have advocated the notion of the nation as ‘one people’ – emphatically denying ‘indigenous’ status to Pygmy peoples and refusing to recognise their distinct needs.
Pygmy peoples are very poorly represented in government – at any level – in the countries where they live.
Their low status and lack of representation makes it hard for them to defend their lands – and the desirable resources within – from outsiders.
In August 2008 nearly 100 Pygmies were released from slavery in DRC, of whom almost half came from families who had been enslaved for generations.
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| © Salomé/Survival |
Such treatment stems from the notion of Pygmies as of lower status, who can be ‘owned’ by their ‘masters’.
Forced labour on farmland is an all too common reality for many displaced Pygmy people, who are extremely vulnerable with no land or representation and little sympathy or support.
Rates of pay are commonly lower for Pygmies across the region.
