Africa's forests at risk if indigenous 'rebels' excluded - experts

Ogiek tribes men lead their donkey to the Mauche settlement scheme of Mau Forest Complex in the Rift Valley, on July 29, 2009. FILE PHOTO | REUTERS

Initiatives to restore African forests, decimated by loggers and land-hungry farmers, must include indigenous people if they are to succeed, experts said on Wednesday.

Analysis shows that forest-dwelling communities often sabotage efforts to plant or safeguard trees when they are excluded from them, whereas they can prove valuable allies if they are brought on board, they said.