Indigenous People

The protection of indigenous peoples' rights is an integrated part of sustainable forestry. Indigenous people living on forest concessions have the right to free, prior and informed consent regarding any activities that may affect and/or involve their land and resources.

Indigenous people's right to consultation is acknowledged by the ILO Convention 169 as well as by the two international standards for sustainable forestry, FSC and PEFC. DLH’s former subsidiary in Congo-Brazzaville (CIB) is home to approx. 10,000 indigenous peoples, including semi-nomadic communities such as Mbendjele Pygmy communities.

Biso na Biso – a local radio station

As a result of a partnership between DLH, its former subsidiary CIB, and the Tropical Forest Trust, the radio station Biso na Biso (which means ‘Among us’) began operations in the concession areas of CIB. This is the first community radio station to broadcast in local indigenous languages and it gives a voice to the community as a whole. 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 and it was developed in view of the social standards of FSC certification. The construction and running of the radio station was possible thanks to the generous financial support from the World Bank Development Marketplace, CIB/DLH, and ‘Fondation Chirac’

Read more about the radio station Biso na Biso at:

Tropical Forest Trust

Fondation Chirac