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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests
PloS one, Vol.11(1), pp.e0144499-e0144499
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/109946
PMCID: PMC4711706
PMID: 26735953
Abstract
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.
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Details
- Title
- Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests
- Creators
- Jesús Olivero - Grupo de Biogeografía, Diversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Facultad de Ciencias, Málaga, SpainJohn E Fa - Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor, IndonesiaMiguel A Farfán - Grupo de Biogeografía, Diversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Facultad de Ciencias, Málaga, SpainJerome Lewis - Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United KingdomBarry Hewlett - Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, United States of AmericaThomas Breuer - Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of AmericaGiuseppe M Carpaneto - Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Rome, ItalyMaría Fernández - Asociación Zerca y Lejos, Madrid, SpainFrancesco Germi - 46 Elm Row, Edinburgh, United KingdomShiho Hattori - Faculty of International Studies, Tenri University, Tenri City, Nara, JapanJosephine Head - Chameleon Strategy, London, United KingdomMitsuo Ichikawa - 46 Yoshida-Shimoadachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, JapanKoichi Kitanaishi - Faculty of Education, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi-shi Yamaguchi, JapanJessica Knights - Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United KingdomNaoki Matsuura - Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Shimoadachi-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, JapanAndrea Migliano - Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United KingdomBarbara Nese - COOPI-Cooperazione Internazionale ONG Onlus, Milano-I, ItalyAndrew Noss - Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of AmericaDieudonné Ongbwa Ekoumou - Institut Santé et Société, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, CanadaPascale Paulin - DDL Lab. CNRS-Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, FranceRaimundo Real - Grupo de Biogeografía, Diversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Facultad de Ciencias, Málaga, SpainMike Riddell - Bioclimate, Research and Development, Edinburgh, United KingdomEdward G J Stevenson - Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United KingdomMikako Toda - Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Shimoadachi-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, JapanJ Mario Vargas - Grupo de Biogeografía, Diversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Facultad de Ciencias, Málaga, SpainHirokazu Yasuoka - Faculty of Humanity and Environment, Hosei University, Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JapanRobert Nasi - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), CIFOR Headquarters, Jalan CIFOR, Situ Gede, Bogor, Indonesia
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.11(1), pp.e0144499-e0144499
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900547296401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article