Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns About Loss of Forest Knowledge: Implications for Forest Management

Although indigenous populations’ participatory rights are recognised as a worldwide priority in forest management, local practices vary in interpretation, scope, and efficacy. The next generation of sustainable forest policies will require a greater degree of self-determination from indigenous group...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation and society 2018-10, Vol.16 (4), p.431-440
Main Authors: Carson, Savanna L., Kentatchime, Fabrice, Nana, Eric Djomo, Njabo, Kevin Y., Cole, Brian L., Godwin, Hilary A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action research
Analysis
Baka
Beliefs, opinions and attitudes
Biodiversity
Cameroon
Camps
Case studies
Community
community-based action research
Conservation
Culture
Decision making
Education
Environmental management
Environmental protection
Face recognition
forest governance
Forest management
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous populations
Knowledge
Native peoples
Native rights
Participation
participatory forestry management
Relocation
Resource management
Sustainability
Sustainable forestry
traditional ecological knowledge
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Summary:Although indigenous populations’ participatory rights are recognised as a worldwide priority in forest management, local practices vary in interpretation, scope, and efficacy. The next generation of sustainable forest policies will require a greater degree of self-determination from indigenous groups (i.e., the ability for use, ownership, management, and control of their traditional lands and resources). Our case study provides insights into how an indigenous population, the Baka in Cameroon, face barriers to participation in policy making, hindering recognition of rights to traditional forestland. The Baka interviewed herein expressed concern for how forest management impacts their livelihoods, threatens traditional ecological knowledge, and limits self-determination. Educational opportunities may provide co-benefits for indigenous stakeholders in forest management. To motivate indigenous inclusion specifically in forest management, we recommend educating forest managers in cultural competency and the importance of indigenous inclusion and knowledge. We recommend development of Baka educational programmes that are focused on promoting greater self-determination and enriching understanding of the forest management processes. These findings would help develop better relationships between indigenous peoples and forest management worldwide.
ISSN:0972-4923
0975-3133
DOI:10.4103/cs.cs_17_105