After a preliminary investigation by the Inspection Panel into programmes to develop the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Bank has acknowledged that: it did not properly apply its safeguard policies; was “not aware of the existence of ‘Pygmy’ communities in areas that would be affected by its projects”; and that it was inappropriate to set targets for the number of new logging concessions. Simon Counsell, of NGO The Rainforest Foundation, said “this is a major victory for the Pygmy people of the Congo, whose rights and livelihoods could be seriously harmed by inappropriate development of the country’s rainforests.”