Voices from the forest

The protection of indigenous peoples' rights is an integrated part of sustainable forestry. The forests managed by our subsidiary in Congo-Brazzaville (CIB) are home to approximately 10,000 indigenous peoples. These include semi-nomadic communities, predominantly Mbendjele Pygmy communities.

To facilitate communication and cooperation between CIB and the largely non-literate forest communities, CIB and Tropical Forest Trust have developed a range of creative and innovative solutions allowing two-way communication, an important factor to meet the FSC standard.

Watch TFT documentary about sustainable forestry in the Republic of Congo and learn about TFT And CIBs project to secure the rights of the indigenous population and  the community radio Biso na Biso.

Part 1

Part 2

Social mapping

Using GSP – based electronic devices and touch-screen technology, the local indigenous communities actively participate in mapping their forest areas a year in advance before timber harvesting is started. The GPS-based devices work with small logic icons, each symbolizing a specific item of interest of the indigenous communities. This allows the largely non-literate forest communities to identify their essential food sources, places of spiritual worship, burial grounds and other areas of cultural significance. Following this process the identified areas are excluded from CIB’s harvesting activities.

This extensive mapping system has given the indigenous communities a tool that serves as a platform of dialogue with other parties on the protection of their livelihoods.  

Biso na Biso – a local radio station

In March 2009. the installation of the radio station Biso na Biso, which means ‘Among us’, was completed.

The opening of radio Biso na Biso is a milestone project for CIB/DLH that has been in the making for many years. It is the first community radio station to broadcast in local indigenous languages and it offers a voice to the community as a whole, enabling them to communicate amongst themselves throughout CIB’s concessions. The process allows them to raise issues that are important to their communities and to find solutions through a lively debate. Additionally, the communities can share knowledge and traditions, enjoy music from neighbouring communities, receive information on when the doctor will be travelling through their area and on problems such as HIV/AIDS and other health related problems.

The radio station is managed by Tropical Forest Trust.

The community radio is part of the wide range of innovative solutions developed in partnership by CIB and the Tropical Forest Trust to meet the social criteria of FSC for sustainable forest management. The construction and running of the radio station is possible thanks to generous financial support from the World Bank Development Marketplace, CIB/DLH, and ‘Fondation Chirac’

The project is a first class example of how governments, NGOs, academics, indigenous peoples and private enterprises can work together to formalise the recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights.

Why is Biso na Biso relevant to CIB and DLH?

Biso na Biso integrates the FSC principle of free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples living in forest concessions and aims to keep communities involved in forest management decision making. Biso na Biso is therefore an essential tool to help CIB comply with the social criteria of FSC.

What is free, prior and informed consent?

Free, prior and informed consent is one of the key social principles of FSC, and it is enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

In our case, free, prior and informed consent means that the concerns of indigenous groups living in CIB’s forest concessions must be taken into account during the planning, decision-making and implementation of forest operations, which might affect their traditional rights. The radio station aims to give the communities adequate understanding of these activities to ensure that they would be able to make informed decisions when engaging into dialogue with CIB. 

Read more about the project