Despite the ongoing controversy, African Parks, which employs more than 2,000 rangers, went ahead with its private fundraising event this week as it seeks to raise an additional $1bn (£743m).
The organisation, which manages protected areas in several African countries, previously said it had improved its safeguarding processes in the past five years, both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
It also said an anthropologist had been appointed to ensure the Baka communities were better supported, but Survival International has repeatedly raised concerns about the abuse of the indigenous people.
A leader of the Baka community reportedly told the charity: “We don’t work with them. The way the African Parks treat us here is violent.”
The individual, whose identity has been withheld to prevent reprisals, added: “African Parks … want to make us disappear.”
Ms Pearce said if the charity’s “fortress conservation model” was not changed, “the Baka will be destroyed as a people”.
‘Sustained investment in human rights safeguards’
A spokesman for African Parks said: “Over the past several years, African Parks has made a substantial and sustained investment in human rights safeguards in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
“This has included the establishment of a fully operational grievance and redress mechanism, three independent human rights NGO partners providing trusted reporting channels for local communities around the park and an independent panel of eminent African judges and human rights specialists who oversee the grievance mechanism, including the handling of all serious grievances.
“We have not been made aware of any specific allegation by Survival International, or any other party, through the above-mentioned channels. Should Survival International wish to lodge such an allegation, we would welcome their engagement through these channels, which exist to ensure that any concerns are properly and independently investigated.”
When contacted for comment on calls for his resignation from the charity, representatives for the Duke referred to the statement made by African Parks last May at the conclusion of the independent human rights investigation in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
At the time, the organisation said it “deeply regrets the pain and suffering caused to the victims”, adding: “There is no place for any form of abuse in the name of conservation.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
