RRI Tenure Region Africa
Forest Tenure in Africa
RRI’s Tenure Tracking Data assesses global advances and setbacks regarding Indigenous Peoples’, Afro-descendant Peoples’, local communities’, and the women within these communities’ legally recognized rights to forests, land, and natural resources. Explore data from Africa.
Change in Distribution of Forest Tenure in ... Countries in Africa, 2002-2017

RRI’s Forest Tenure Database tracks the statutory distribution of Forest Tenure going back to 2002. Under RRI’s typology, all forest area in the countries studied are classified as either: (1) Government Administered; (2) Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities; (3) Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities; or (4) Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms. To read more about the methodology underpinning this classification, click here.

Bundle of Rights in Africa

For 11 countries in Africa, RRI maintains detailed qualitative data on the strength of Forest Tenure rights legally held by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities. Learn more about RRI’s Bundle of Rights Methodology here.

Source: RRI. 2017. Depth of Rights Database.

Distribution of Forest Tenure by Country in Africa, in Mha

Explore country-level data on the distribution of Forest Tenure over time in Mha. Click on the country name to learn more about the legal frameworks recognizing community-based tenure, including the rights of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and community women.

Country

Government Administered

2002 2017

Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

2002 2017

Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

2002 2017

Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms

2002 2017
Angola: Angola
2002: 59.73
2017: 57.86
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: 0.001
2002: -
2017: -
Cameroon: Cameroon
2002: 22.12
2017: 18.98
2002: 0.00
2017: 3.02
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Central African Republic: Central African Republic
2002: 22.40
2017: 22.17
2002: -
2017: 0.00
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.002
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Democratic Republic of the Congo
2002: 157.25
2017: 152.41
2002: -
2017: 0.17
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Ethiopia: Ethiopia
2002: 13.70
2017: 12.29
2002: 0.01
2017: 0.21
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Gabon: Gabon
2002: 22.00
2017: 22.93
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.07
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Gambia: Gambia
2002: 0.44
2017: 0.44
2002: 0.02
2017: 0.05
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.001
2017: 0.001
Kenya: Kenya
2002: 3.48
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: 0.38
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.08
2017: 0.09
Liberia: Liberia
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: 0.58
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Mali: Mali
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: 0.004
2017: 0.004
Mozambique: Mozambique
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.07
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: -
Nigeria: Nigeria
2002: 12.97
2017: -
2002: 0.16
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Republic of Congo: Republic of Congo
2002: 22.56
2017: 22.33
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Senegal: Senegal
2002: 8.89
2017: 8.26
2002: 0.004
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.002
2017: 0.01
South Sudan: South Sudan
2002: -
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: n.d.
2002: -
2017: 0.00
Sudan: Sudan
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: 0.04
2017: 0.20
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Tanzania: Tanzania
2002: 35.13
2017: 17.29
2002: 0.07
2017: 5.39
2002: 16.60
2017: 21.91
2002: 0.12
2017: 3.51
Togo: Togo
2002: 0.13
2017: 0.06
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: n.d.
2002: 0.35
2017: n.d.
Zambia: Zambia
2002: 51.13
2017: 48.54
2002: -
2017: 0.08
2002: -
2017: 0.02
2002: -
2017: 0.00
Subtotal, Complete Case LMICs in Africa (11 countries): Subtotal, Complete Case LMICs in Africa (11 countries)
2002: 415.34
2017: 383.49
2002: 0.10
2017: 8.99
2002: 16.60
2017: 21.92
2002: 0.12
2017: 3.52
Total, Africa (19 countries): Total, Africa (19 countries)
2002: 431.93
2017: 383.55
2002: 0.31
2017: 9.64
2002: 16.60
2017: 22.50
2002: 0.56
2017: 3.61

Highlighting in gray indicates Complete Case Countries.
Dashes (-) denote situations in which the tenure category in question is not legally possible under national law.
n.d. = No Data
Source: RRI. 2018. At a Crossroads: Trends in Recognition of Community-Based Forest Tenure from 2002-2017.

Women’s Rights to Community Forests in Africa

RRI’s Gender Database builds on RRI’s Bundle of Rights methodology to assess the extent to which the same countries’ legal frameworks recognize Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community women’s specific rights to community forests, and whether or not those countries are meeting their obligations under national and international laws. Learn more about RRI’s Gender Methodology here.

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