Batwa Pygmies For Christmas Project
Donation protected
BATWA PYGMIES TREE PLANTING AND FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS PROJECT
When the reclassification of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park happened in 1992, it had a devastating impact on the Batwa Pygmy people. They were evicted from the forest where they had lived for 4,000 years as hunter-gatherers and no longer permitted to enter the park to access its resources. The government of Uganda has not provided compensation for the loss of their forest home, nor has it helped with teaching the Batwa people how to earn a living in the modern world. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is most notable for the 400 Bwindi gorillas, half of the world's population of endangered mountain gorillas, and as such is classified as a World Heritage Site.
This effort is to address two issues; the first is to provide for a Batwa traditional Christmas feast in order to avoid natural resource extraction for foods in the Forest such as wild yams and honey, and to prevent poaching of gorillas and other wild animals and prevent the spread of diseases associated with illegal entry into the park by the Batwa people.
The second issue is to provide indigenous and fruit tree seedlings to be planted by the Batwa to help provide another source of food, regenerate the area, and mitigate climate change.
The areas bordering the park have a high population density of more than 400 people per kilometre including the Batwa Pygmy population. The Batwa population has over 76 homesteads with 6-8 people in each hut-like home. In Mukono parish are the poorest of the poor people in Buhoma-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
The Batwa Pygmies were formerly able to lead walks in the Forest, sell crafts, and provide dances and dramas for the tourist industry, but can no longer do so because of covid-19, and are therefore destitute and starving. These funds would provide food for all the Batwa homesteads, tree seedlings, and soap.
If you are interested in further helping the mountain gorillas and surrounding communities, please go to
https://www.greenmountaininitiative.org
When the reclassification of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park happened in 1992, it had a devastating impact on the Batwa Pygmy people. They were evicted from the forest where they had lived for 4,000 years as hunter-gatherers and no longer permitted to enter the park to access its resources. The government of Uganda has not provided compensation for the loss of their forest home, nor has it helped with teaching the Batwa people how to earn a living in the modern world. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is most notable for the 400 Bwindi gorillas, half of the world's population of endangered mountain gorillas, and as such is classified as a World Heritage Site.
This effort is to address two issues; the first is to provide for a Batwa traditional Christmas feast in order to avoid natural resource extraction for foods in the Forest such as wild yams and honey, and to prevent poaching of gorillas and other wild animals and prevent the spread of diseases associated with illegal entry into the park by the Batwa people.
The second issue is to provide indigenous and fruit tree seedlings to be planted by the Batwa to help provide another source of food, regenerate the area, and mitigate climate change.
The areas bordering the park have a high population density of more than 400 people per kilometre including the Batwa Pygmy population. The Batwa population has over 76 homesteads with 6-8 people in each hut-like home. In Mukono parish are the poorest of the poor people in Buhoma-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
The Batwa Pygmies were formerly able to lead walks in the Forest, sell crafts, and provide dances and dramas for the tourist industry, but can no longer do so because of covid-19, and are therefore destitute and starving. These funds would provide food for all the Batwa homesteads, tree seedlings, and soap.
If you are interested in further helping the mountain gorillas and surrounding communities, please go to
https://www.greenmountaininitiative.org
Organizer
Carol Bennetto
Organizer
