ITURI FOREST PEOPLES FUND

The forest's first farmers

The nomadic, hunting-gathering life-style of the Pygmies changed dramatically around two thousand years ago when farmers from the more densely populated bordering savannas entered the forest along the innumerable watercourses that drain into the Ubangi and Zaire rivers. What prompted this invasion of the forest? Africa's main native cultivated crops are millet and sorghum, neither of which can tolerate the constant humidity of the rain forest. The only native crop species of the rain forest are oil palms (Elaeis guineensis), which provide oil-rich fruits and seeds but only do so three to five years after planting, and herbaceous vine yams (various Dioscorea species), which produce rather bitter, unpalatable tubers. Extensive farming within the rain forest only became feasible with the introduction by Arab traders of rainloving crop plants such as bananas from Southeast Asia and, much later (sixteenth century), when the Portuguese brought manioc, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, beans, and squash from the Americas. With the increased cultivation of bananas, primarily the hard, green plantain, came the progressive introduction of agriculture into the Congo basin.

The rain forests of Africa have therefore been altered by the human hand for well over one thousand years. Tropical forest ecologist Dr. Paul Richards contends that what has always been considered to be primeval, uncut rain forest in West Africa is actually the ancient, abandoned gardens of early forest farmers. However, as all forests of the world are mosaics of young, old, and dying trees, after a few centuries it becomes very difficult to tell what were natural tree falls or a result of felling by humans. The rapid growth and decay characteristic of rain forests makes Richards's conclusions even more difficult to prove. Nonetheless, African rain forests have been altered by humanity for a considerable time. Forest farming methods have changed little since becoming established within the Congo basin. Very few tools are used, no draught animals exist, and crops are only produced in sufficient quantities to feed the family and provide seed for the next year.