MAPPING OF RESOURCE USE AREA BY THE BAKA PYGMIES INSIDE AND AROUND BOUMBA-BEK NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTHEAST CAMEROON, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BAKA'S CUSTOMARY RIGHTS

Abstract

In the beginning of the year 2000 the Cameroon government created several protected areas within the framework of efforts aimed at biodiversity conservation in southeast Cameroon, one of which is the Boumba-Bek National Park. The creation of this park restricted the rights of the Baka indigenous hunter-gatherers living in the region to use the resource there. To take into consideration adequately the customary rights of this indigenous people in the management and development of this protected area, we carried out scientific studies as part of investigation by the WWF Cameroon on how the Baka use this forest space. Results of these studies revealed that the Baka have been using the forest for various purposes for a long time. Resources used by the Baka in this forest are very important for them economically, socially and culturally. To accommodate the Baka customary rights to access the forest resources, the management plan for Boumba-Bek National Park should be partly modified to elaborate sufficiently the actuality of Baka traditional use of land and resources.