Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon
We document a process initiated by Indigenous Peoples in Cameroon that seeks to open a dialogue with key conservation actors to work towards community-led, rights-based alternatives to so-called fortress conservation. In June 2021, Gbabandi, a platform of forest Indigenous Peoples, invited key conse...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Oryx |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323000157/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797754582914301952 |
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| author | Timothée Emini Catherine Clarke Cath Long |
| author_facet | Timothée Emini Catherine Clarke Cath Long |
| author_sort | Timothée Emini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We document a process initiated by Indigenous Peoples in Cameroon that seeks to open a dialogue with key conservation actors to work towards community-led, rights-based alternatives to so-called fortress conservation. In June 2021, Gbabandi, a platform of forest Indigenous Peoples, invited key conservation actors to a 1-day listening event. This represented an important precedent, reversing the usual approach to dialogue in which Indigenous Peoples are invited to participate at various levels in externally directed processes. In this case the space for engagement was opened by Indigenous Peoples on their own terms based on Indigenous ways of organizing, and conservation organizations were invited to participate. Indigenous Peoples gave testimonies of physical violence and abuse in various protected areas across Cameroon. Conservation actors acknowledged there had been violations of human rights and there was substantial discussion about threats to wildlife and the need for more inclusive approaches to conservation, redevelopment of management plans and renegotiation of access for Indigenous communities based on community consent. The long-term impact remains to be seen but the immediate effect of an Indigenous-led process was that key decision makers in conservation in Cameroon heard directly from the people affected by their decisions and, since the event, have been more active than previously in contacting and consulting Indigenous Peoples about how protected areas are managed. Gbabandi is hopeful that this type of initiative will change the dialogue between communities and protected area managers and will lead to real changes in conservation practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:34:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52fbf92071f0430288d8f61baf73c25b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:34:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oryx |
| spelling | doaj.art-52fbf92071f0430288d8f61baf73c25b2023-08-04T12:01:32ZengCambridge University PressOryx0030-60531365-30082023-05-015728829710.1017/S0030605323000157Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in CameroonTimothée Emini0Catherine Clarke1https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2266-0765Cath Long2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2739-0419Juriste, Association Okani, 115 Bertoua, Quartier Tiyoro, Bertoua, CameroonForest Peoples Programme, Moreton-in-Marsh, UKForest Peoples Programme, Moreton-in-Marsh, UKWe document a process initiated by Indigenous Peoples in Cameroon that seeks to open a dialogue with key conservation actors to work towards community-led, rights-based alternatives to so-called fortress conservation. In June 2021, Gbabandi, a platform of forest Indigenous Peoples, invited key conservation actors to a 1-day listening event. This represented an important precedent, reversing the usual approach to dialogue in which Indigenous Peoples are invited to participate at various levels in externally directed processes. In this case the space for engagement was opened by Indigenous Peoples on their own terms based on Indigenous ways of organizing, and conservation organizations were invited to participate. Indigenous Peoples gave testimonies of physical violence and abuse in various protected areas across Cameroon. Conservation actors acknowledged there had been violations of human rights and there was substantial discussion about threats to wildlife and the need for more inclusive approaches to conservation, redevelopment of management plans and renegotiation of access for Indigenous communities based on community consent. The long-term impact remains to be seen but the immediate effect of an Indigenous-led process was that key decision makers in conservation in Cameroon heard directly from the people affected by their decisions and, since the event, have been more active than previously in contacting and consulting Indigenous Peoples about how protected areas are managed. Gbabandi is hopeful that this type of initiative will change the dialogue between communities and protected area managers and will lead to real changes in conservation practice.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323000157/type/journal_articleBakaCamerooncommunity-led conservationCongo BasinIndigenous Peoplesprotected areas |
| spellingShingle | Timothée Emini Catherine Clarke Cath Long Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon Oryx Baka Cameroon community-led conservation Congo Basin Indigenous Peoples protected areas |
| title | Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon |
| title_full | Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon |
| title_short | Ripples from a single stone: Indigenous mobilization for community tenure-led conservation in Cameroon |
| title_sort | ripples from a single stone indigenous mobilization for community tenure led conservation in cameroon |
| topic | Baka Cameroon community-led conservation Congo Basin Indigenous Peoples protected areas |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323000157/type/journal_article |
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