African countries are slow to address problems about who owns forested land, according to a report from the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) and the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI).

The report, which was presented at an ITTO and RRI-organised forestry conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, shows that “less than 2 percent of Africa’s tropical forests are owned by or designated for use by the region’s forest communities and indigenous groups compared to nearly one-third of all forests in Latin America, Asia and the Pacific.” (Press release).

By lagging behind in working out ‘tenure reform’ – ensuring land rights for local communities – Africa is not only threatening the planet but also putting local people at risk, the report says. “Inaction on land reform and the separation of forests into national parks or industrial concessions exacerbate civil strife and limit community development and conservation efforts,” so says RRI’s Andy White, who was an advisor for the study.

The news has travelled far, if not yet wide. The UN’s humanitarian news site IRIN, has it covered,

as does the BBC, and in the African press, of course, news of the report and the meeting is being reported (All Africa, Africa Science News).

The meeting runs until May 30, for a closer look at the agenda look here.