Indigenous peoples and conservation of forest resources: the case of the Baka people of the eastern region of Cameroon

Knowledge used by indigenous peoples about the conservation and management of their resources has traditionally been underestimated by many conservationists. Conservation has been regarded as a modern concept, which is hitherto unknown by most ‘primitive’ societies. Looking at it from an emic point of view, this paper attempts to analyse the extent to which the Baka indigenous people of the eastern region of Cameroon have managed to conserve their forest resources by means of following a sustainable way of life.

Keywords: pygmies, indigenous peoples, sustainability, culture, forest resources, conservation