PRADD Rapport d'Etude MARP dans les Zones - Land Tenure and ...

ights/ownership, environmental impacts were evaluated, and principles for the zoning of land andmines were established.A multidisciplinary team with a variety of technical skills was deployed to complete the PRAincluding local leaders, technical advisors to the Ministry of Mines, administrative authorities,municipal and local civil servants, mining enforcement teams, and PRADD consultants/researchassociates.DATA COLLECTED ON THE PRADD PILOT SITESDistance fromcity of BodaGeographiccharacteristicsEnvironmentaldegradation:Major ethnicgroupsBoulay Bossou Ngotto17 km 42 km 45 kmSavannah and forests,upstream from the sourceof the Luba river.Severe deforestation dueto mining activities.Bofi and FulaniSandstone plateau with riverfilledvalleys.Deforestation and heavypollution of waterways.Fulbe, Chadian Arabs, and(seasonally) Fulani.Savannah and forests.Located at the junction of twomajor rivers.Deforestation andencroachment on national parkland. Uncontrolled mining ofthe many rivers surroundingNgotto.Many ethnic groups presentincluding Pygmies.Major river: Luba Luba, Mambéré, Nguini Nala Lobaye Mbaéré, Ibéléké,Yombé, and MalangaEconomicactivities inaddition toartisanal miningAgriculture, livestockproduction, hunting andgathering. Here as in theother villages, women areactive in the agriculturesector and themanufacturing anddistribution of alcohol.Gold mining ceased becauseof non-compliance withgovernment regulations.Agriculture is practiced to alimited extent. Many smallbusinesses have beenestablished to support thedominant mining industry.Industrial forestry project runby IFB. The nearby nationalpark (73,500 hectares)provides some employment(EcoGuards). There is also atourism development projectthat is expected to provideemployment.For all villages, the social and economic life of community members is largely dictated by theseasons. In the dry season, income is much higher thanks to increased mining productivity. During therainy season, many mines are inactive and inaccessible due to floods. This marks a difficult period forminers and many turn to agricultural activities or hunting/gathering to support their families. Menwork with women in the fields but despite these efforts, food security is very weak during the rainyseason.PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE PILOT AREASSocio-legal principles, both legal and customary, determine the access, control, ownership andtransfer of land and its resources in CAR. Property rights are based on the principles of localownership and management, guided by commonly accepted practices and traditions in the region.Ownership of land and resources in CAR is complex and elastic. This results in longevity ofownership and the transfer of land and mining sites across generations. Three main methods ofacquiring land rights were identified through the PRA:1) Right of ownership through discovery and work:Rivers and their resources are generally considered Free or Common Pool Resources for localcommunities and are used for fishing, transporting goods and as water sources. However,ownership of land on the banks of rivers can be gained through work and discovery. When aperson discovers and develops a mining site, it is his by right. Artisanal miners often realize thepotential of an area isolated from residential areas and demarcate it through the placement ofnatural markers to identify the site. This legitimizes the mine and its ownership by the claimant.This is the most commonly used method to acquire land rights.2 PRADD CAR –ETUDE MARP DANS LES ZONES PILOTES DE BOULAYE, BOSSOUI ET NGOTTO