Lectures on wild meat and wild plant use by Baka Pygmies in Cameroon

The UK Darwin Initiative project "Enabling Baka attain food security, improved health and sustain biodiversity" (2017-2020; project reference number 24-09) aimed at improving the agri-food systems, and as a result reduce the impact on wildlife, in southeastern Cameroon. A crucial component was to understand the hunting system of sedentarised Baka Pygmies and to encourage sustainable wildlife extraction.

We worked with 10 Baka settlements along the main road south of the Dja Nature Reserve in in southeastern Cameroon. Data was gathered on the use of domestic crops and wild foods to determine their importance in meeting the nutritional needs of the target population. In parallel, we assessed the human health status of villagers to determine levels of malnutrition and disease, and potentially establish links with foods consumed.

We worked alongside hunters in the community to map existing community hunting grounds, understand current hunting practices, and measure offtake. Independently, we assessed the status of mammal and land birds in the hunting areas defined by the study communities using camera trapping. Through community consultation, and informed by the data collected through the project, a sustainable hunting plan can be developed.

Here, we present a series of PowerPoint presentations highlighting the project´s research outcomes.