Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests.
Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedente...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711706?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818313533558882304 |
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| author | Jesús Olivero John E Fa Miguel A Farfán Jerome Lewis Barry Hewlett Thomas Breuer Giuseppe M Carpaneto María Fernández Francesco Germi Shiho Hattori Josephine Head Mitsuo Ichikawa Koichi Kitanaishi Jessica Knights Naoki Matsuura Andrea Migliano Barbara Nese Andrew Noss Dieudonné Ongbwa Ekoumou Pascale Paulin Raimundo Real Mike Riddell Edward G J Stevenson Mikako Toda J Mario Vargas Hirokazu Yasuoka Robert Nasi |
| author_facet | Jesús Olivero John E Fa Miguel A Farfán Jerome Lewis Barry Hewlett Thomas Breuer Giuseppe M Carpaneto María Fernández Francesco Germi Shiho Hattori Josephine Head Mitsuo Ichikawa Koichi Kitanaishi Jessica Knights Naoki Matsuura Andrea Migliano Barbara Nese Andrew Noss Dieudonné Ongbwa Ekoumou Pascale Paulin Raimundo Real Mike Riddell Edward G J Stevenson Mikako Toda J Mario Vargas Hirokazu Yasuoka Robert Nasi |
| author_sort | Jesús Olivero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedented number of known Pygmy camps and settlements (n = 654) in five of the nine countries where currently distributed. With these data we develop spatial distribution models based on the favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable environmental conditions from those less suitable for Pygmy presence. Highly favourable areas were significantly explained by presence of tropical forests, and by lower human pressure variables. For documented Pygmy settlements, we use the relationship between observed population sizes and predicted favourability values to estimate the total Pygmy population throughout Central Africa. We estimate that around 920,000 Pygmies (over 60% in DRC) is possible within favourable forest areas in Central Africa. We argue that fragmentation of the existing Pygmy populations, alongside pressure from extractive industries and sometimes conflict with conservation areas, endanger their future. There is an urgent need to inform policies that can mitigate against future external threats to these indigenous peoples' culture and lifestyles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:35:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3430e9ef1e848b996de0495a7be81c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:35:16Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3430e9ef1e848b996de0495a7be81c22022-12-21T23:53:39ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01111e014449910.1371/journal.pone.0144499Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests.Jesús OliveroJohn E FaMiguel A FarfánJerome LewisBarry HewlettThomas BreuerGiuseppe M CarpanetoMaría FernándezFrancesco GermiShiho HattoriJosephine HeadMitsuo IchikawaKoichi KitanaishiJessica KnightsNaoki MatsuuraAndrea MiglianoBarbara NeseAndrew NossDieudonné Ongbwa EkoumouPascale PaulinRaimundo RealMike RiddellEdward G J StevensonMikako TodaJ Mario VargasHirokazu YasuokaRobert NasiPygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedented number of known Pygmy camps and settlements (n = 654) in five of the nine countries where currently distributed. With these data we develop spatial distribution models based on the favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable environmental conditions from those less suitable for Pygmy presence. Highly favourable areas were significantly explained by presence of tropical forests, and by lower human pressure variables. For documented Pygmy settlements, we use the relationship between observed population sizes and predicted favourability values to estimate the total Pygmy population throughout Central Africa. We estimate that around 920,000 Pygmies (over 60% in DRC) is possible within favourable forest areas in Central Africa. We argue that fragmentation of the existing Pygmy populations, alongside pressure from extractive industries and sometimes conflict with conservation areas, endanger their future. There is an urgent need to inform policies that can mitigate against future external threats to these indigenous peoples' culture and lifestyles.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711706?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Jesús Olivero John E Fa Miguel A Farfán Jerome Lewis Barry Hewlett Thomas Breuer Giuseppe M Carpaneto María Fernández Francesco Germi Shiho Hattori Josephine Head Mitsuo Ichikawa Koichi Kitanaishi Jessica Knights Naoki Matsuura Andrea Migliano Barbara Nese Andrew Noss Dieudonné Ongbwa Ekoumou Pascale Paulin Raimundo Real Mike Riddell Edward G J Stevenson Mikako Toda J Mario Vargas Hirokazu Yasuoka Robert Nasi Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. PLoS ONE |
| title | Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. |
| title_full | Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. |
| title_fullStr | Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. |
| title_short | Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests. |
| title_sort | distribution and numbers of pygmies in central african forests |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711706?pdf=render |
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