II - GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION

• A - THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
• B) THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO
• C) THE GABON REPUBLIC
• D) THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
• E) THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• F) THE REPUBLIC OF ZAïRE

Among the 24 000 000 people living in the forested areas, only 3 000 000 are strictly dependent on the forest's ecosystem (this includes people living off swidden agriculture, fishing, hunting and gathering).

Our research is only concerned with those populations highly dependent on the forest environment. As economic and anthropological criteria alone cannot help determine the degree of this dependence, we have chosen population density as the main indicator. There are two extreme cases :

- traditional hunter-gatherers : they exploit vast areas with a density below 1 inhab./ km² ;

- agriculturists who have settled along the roads of the commercial network : they occupy and exploit a fixed and limited area with densities of 50 inhab./km².

Several populations are included between the two extremes. This report does not take into account the groups of over 50 inhab./km² which have thus disrupted the delicate balance between population density and forest resources.

For demographic data, the following publications were referred to : the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1992), the EIU's[58] country profile (1992-1993), the CEPED[59] (1991-1992), together with various documents on national censuses.

*Given the problematical conditions under which censuses are carried out, it is important to stress that these figures are estimates and not precise data. The dates of the latest reliable censuses are : 1975 for the Central African Republic (CAR) ; 1987 for Cameroon[60] -unofficial results, overall estimates based on the 1976-78 census ; 1981 for Gabon ; 1983 for Equatorial Guinea ; 1984 for Congo ; 1984 for Zaïre. The data on population numbers per ethnic group, provided by the anthropological and linguistic publications covering the area, is unreliable : censuses are rare, often very out of date, limited locally (a few villages), or on the contrary including several distinct neighbouring ethnic groups.

A - THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity. Mobile Pygmies are considered as populations marginal to the national community.

Three projects threaten the traditional exploitation of the forest :

- Plans for zoning land, thus aiming at restricting deforestation due to agriculture and encouraging regeneration.

- Plans for creating three protected areas in forested regions.

- Plans for the integration of Pygmies via enforced settlement and agricultural training (funded among others by the Ministry for Social and Women's Affairs).

If the areas given over to rural populations, whether they be mobile populations or not, for carrying out their subsistence strategies is calculated on too narrow a basis, projects for zoning and for creating protected areas can threaten their survival. It neglects the necessity for both vast travelling areas for hunting and gathering, and huge amounts of land for agricultural purposes : fallows can last a very long time.

Administrative unit	Population	Size (km2)	Density (inhab./km2)
Southern Province Arrondissement of Edea Department of Kribi Department of Ntem Department of Dja and Lobo	270 634	47 137	8 5 8 5
Central Province Department of Lekié Department of Mefou - Yaounde not included- Arrondissement of Essé Department of Nyong and Mfomou Department of Nyong and So Department of Nyong and Kelle	775 895	69 035	49 35 12 10 18 11 3
Eastern Province Department of Haut Nyong - Lomié not included Arrondissements of Lomie and Yoko Department of the Boumba and Ngoko	377 022	109 002	4 0,6 1
Total	1 423 551	225 174	12,1

B) THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO

In the census, the total population is divided into 8 main ethnic groups : Kongo 51,5 % ; Teke 17,3 % ; Mboshi 11,5 % ; Mbete 4,8 % ; Punu 3 % ; Sangho 2,7 % ; Maka 1,8 % ; Pygmies 1,5 % ; others 5,9 %, some of which live in the forest.

Aka and Baka Pygmies, related respectively to the Aka in the CAR and the Baka in Cameroon, live in the north of the country.

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity.

Representativeness of populations : the president of the Village Committee is elected by the village heads. It is an economic, political and social role rather than an administrative one. Local government, in the form of Postes de contrôle administratif (PCA), control these Village Committees and are themselves controlled by the central administration, all key positions being a matter of government decision. The PCA's authority more or less covers a District.

Policies concerning the forest : forest exploitation is developing in the north of the country, but two national parks are being created. The position and role of forest populations in these protected areas remain to be defined.

C) THE GABON REPUBLIC

The population is divided into two main groups (Fang, Kota and its related groups) : the Fang represent 99 % of the population in Woleu Ntem.

Bongo Pygmies (Akoa) live in the south of the country ; Baka and Bakola Pygmies in the north.

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity.

Problems : intense forest exploitation, particularly in the Franceville region (south-east).

D) THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Five main ethnic groups : Fang 82 % ; Bubi 9,6 % ; Ndowe (including the Baseke, Benga and Kombe among others) 3,8 % ; Annobones 1,5 % ; Bujeba 1,4 % ; others 0,8 %.

A few Gyeli or Kola Pygmies (related to those in south-west Cameroon) live in the far north.

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity.

Problems : forest exploitation is intense and anarchicical.

International migrations were provoked by the negative impact of the period of dictatorship (1968-1979).

E) THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

>Approximately 10 000 Aka Pygmies live in the southern forest areas, partly overstepping the border with Congo. About 10 ethnic groups, swidden agriculturists (of which the Ngbaka, Ngando, Pande, and Mpiemo), live in the forest. Fishing populations (Monzombo, Pomo) live along the rivers (Ubangi, Sangha).

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity.

Forest policies : the intensity of forest exploitation tends to fluctuate because of the difficulties involved in the distance to cover to get to the coast and problems of exportation. However, a through route to Cameroon is being built through the forest.

Locally, small-scale diamond mines lead to an influx of miners.

A national park is being created in the south-west of the country, but the position of the Pygmies within it has not been defined yet.

Prefecture -Sub-prefecture	Population	Size (km2)	Density (inhab./km2)
Sangha-Mbaere -Nola -Gambio	57 147 49 522 7 525	19 412 14 147 5 265	3,0 3,5 1,5
Lobaye -Boda -Mbaïki -Mongoumba	125 632 40 978 74 926 9 728	19 235 9 035 8 931 1 269	6,5 4,5 8,4 7,7
Total	182 779	38 647	4,5

F) THE REPUBLIC OF ZAïRE

The constitution does not take into account criteria based on an individual or a group's ethnic background : national unity prevails over ethnicity.

Approximately 50 ethnic groups live in the forest basin, many of which are Pygmy populations (mainly in Ituri).

Forest policy : forest exploitation is still only being carried out on a small-scale because of problems of access to and movement within the area.

Locally, small-scale gold mines lead to anarchical gold-rushes provoking social and economic disruptions. In Ituri, the forest is beginning to be invaded by Nande migrants, from Kivu, seeking new agricultural land.

The country's disastrous economic situation is dramatically illustrated in some areas where farmers were entirely dependent on coffee production (Equateur, Haut Zaïre).

A national park aiming at protecting the okapis is being created in Ituri and the position of Pygmies within it has not been defined yet.

As in Cameroon, this project is potentially harmful for rural populations if the areas given over to human activities are too small.

Region	Rural population	Density (inhab./km2)
Equateur	3 049 000	7,6
Haut-Zaïre	3 618 000	7,2
Kivu	4 715 000	18,4
Bandundu	3 167 000	11
Eastern Kasai	1 783 000	10,6
Western Kasai	1 867 000	11,9
Bas Zaïre	1 492 000	27,7
Shaba	2 436 000	4,9
Total	22 127 000	10,9

[58] The Economist Intelligence Unit : 40 Duke Street, London W1A 1DW.

[59] Centre Français sur la Population et le Développement.

[60] Francophone Cameroon began organizing localized surveys in the 1950s. Between 1961 and 1965 : regional surveys ; in 1976 : first general census ; in 1978 : National Fertility Survey ; in 1987 : second general census ; in 1991 : Demographic and Health Survey. See Institut de Formation et de Recherche Démographique (IFORD), based in Yaoundé since 1972. (LOPEZ-ESCARTIN, 1991).

[61] Estimates only. Population : 1987 census ; LOPEZ-ESCARTIN,1991 ; United Nations. Size of the country : Encyclopaedia Britannica, suppl.. Population density : based on figures provided for 1962-64, INSEE.

[62] Census carried out in 1975 but only published in 1980. Central African Republic, Ministry for Planning, Cooperation and general statistics, Central Statistical Office.

[63] Estimates for 1993 based on the 1984 census, in LOPEZ-ESCARTIN, 1992.