Life had always been a struggle for residents of Biba II Village on the periphery of the Dja reserve that has more than 1,500 plant species. Residents of Cameroon’s dense equatorial forest bemoan the fact that timber firms have reneged on promises made. “Local authorities and forest communities have little or no knowledge of the talks,” said Paul Gbalene, a ruler of Djoameodjoh, a forest community of Baka pygmies and Bantus. There has been a proliferation of complaints of massive exploitation and disrespect of the rights of forest communities in the Central African nation. The Djoameodjoh community expected $26,000 for wood harvested but Sofhony instead gave the local public treasury 800 roofing zinc sheets valued at $6,500.

Source: Daily Nation May 01, 2017 18:33 UTC