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. 2016 Jan 6;11(1):e0144499.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144499. eCollection 2016.

Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests

Jesús Olivero  1 , Julia E Fa  2   3 , Miguel A Farfán  1 , Jerome Lewis  4 , Barry Hewlett  5 , Thomas Breuer  6 , Giuseppe M Carpaneto  7 , María Fernández  8 , Francesco Germi  9 , Shiho Hattori  10 , Josephine Head  11 , Mitsuo Ichikawa  12 , Koichi Kitanaishi  13 , Jessica Knights  4 , Naoki Matsuura  14 , Andrea Migliano  4 , Barbara Nese  15 , Andrew Noss  16 , Dieudonné Ongbwa Ekoumou  17 , Pascale Paulin  18 , Raimundo Real  1 , Mike Riddell  19 , Edward G J Stevenson  20 , Mikako Toda  14 , J Mario Vargas  1 , Hirokazu Yasuoka  21 , Robert Nasi  22
Affiliations

Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests

Jesús Olivero et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedented number of known Pygmy camps and settlements (n = 654) in five of the nine countries where currently distributed. With these data we develop spatial distribution models based on the favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable environmental conditions from those less suitable for Pygmy presence. Highly favourable areas were significantly explained by presence of tropical forests, and by lower human pressure variables. For documented Pygmy settlements, we use the relationship between observed population sizes and predicted favourability values to estimate the total Pygmy population throughout Central Africa. We estimate that around 920,000 Pygmies (over 60% in DRC) is possible within favourable forest areas in Central Africa. We argue that fragmentation of the existing Pygmy populations, alongside pressure from extractive industries and sometimes conflict with conservation areas, endanger their future. There is an urgent need to inform policies that can mitigate against future external threats to these indigenous peoples' culture and lifestyles.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: There is no competing interest. The authors declare no competing financial interests. Funding received has been for the execution of the work reported in this paper. None of the authors are members of any organisation that dictate or influence the results or discussions in this paper.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Environmental favourability (F) model for Pygmies.
Red: F > 0.5; yellow: F < F. Presence areas are delimited with a thick black line. (Ca: Cameroon; CAR: Central African Republic; Su: Sudan; EG: Equatorial Guinea; Ga: Gambia; RoC: Republic of Congo; DRC: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ug: Uganda; Rw: Rwanda; Bu: Burundi; Ta: Tanzania; An: Angola; Za: Zambia).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Space defined by predicted environmental favourability (x-axis) and population size (y-axis).
The scatter plot shows a polygonal wedge-shaped spread of points with the upper limit increasing at higher favourability values. The blue line fits the quantile regression with the 95th percentile, representing the upper limit of potential population size. Red lines indicate average population size considered, in every favourability category (<0.2, 0.2–0.5, >0.5), for estimating net potential population size in the Central African studied area.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Estimates of potential Pygmy population size by countries in Central Africa.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Box-plot showing relationships between favourability and distance to roads, within the areas recorded as Pygmy presences.
Box upper limit: Q3; box lower limit: Q1; horizontal line: median; whisker limits: Q1-1.5×(Q3-Q1) and Q3+1.5×(Q3-Q1); points: outliers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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