The importance of livelihood strategy and ethnicity in forest ecosystem services’ perceptions by local communities in north-western Cameroon (original) (raw)
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The forests of the Albertine Rift are known for their high biodiversity and the important ecosystem services they provide to millions of inhabitants. However, their conservation and the maintenance of ecosystem service delivery is a challenge, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our research investigates how livelihood strategy and ethnicity affects local perceptions of forest ecosystem services. We collected data through 25 focus-group discussions in villages from distinct ethnic groups, including farmers (Tembo, Shi, and Nyindu) and hunter-gatherers (Twa). Twa identify more food-provisioning services and rank bush meat and honey as the most important. They also show stronger place attachment to the forest than the farmers, who value other ecosystem services, but all rank microclimate regulation as the most important. Our findings help assess ecosystem services trade-offs, highlight the important impacts of restricted access to forests resources for Twa, and point...
Perceptions of ecosystem services provided by tropical forests to local populations in Cameroon
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In Central Africa, local populations are deeply dependent on tropical forests, which provide numerous ecosystem services (ES). For the first time in Central Africa, we assessed the perceptions of ES provided by tropical forests to local populations, considering three land allocation types: a protected area, a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)certified logging concession, and three community forests. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 225 forest stakeholders in southeastern Cameroon, combining an open-ended question and 16 directed questions to evaluate the perceptions of ES significance and abundance, respectively. The ES most frequently reported as significant were provisioning (93% of respondents) and cultural & amenity services (68%), whereas regulating services were less mentioned (16%). Bushmeat provision was the only ES perceived as highly significant but not very abundant. There were slight variations of perceptions among forest land allocation types and respondents, suggesting a relative homogeneity in ES abundance. For further integrative ES assessment, we suggest quantifying ES with complementary ecological and economic approaches, such as meat provision, recreation, tourism, timber provision, spiritual experience, firewood provision, water quality regulation, and inspiration for culture. We also give three concrete recommendations for forest management, the most urgent being to provide sources of protein alternative to bushmeat.
Does gathering really pay? Case studies from forest areas of the East and South regions of Cameroon
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Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are frequently considered as providing a major contribution to the livelihoods of forest people as sources of food, feed, medicinal plants, wood fuel, materials for building and crafts and cash. Therefore, logging concessionaires, especially when they exploit species having both timber and nontimber values, are often blamed for jeopardizing forest peoples' livelihoods. We have tested this assumption in two logging concessions located in the South and East regions of Cameroon. Contrary to most publications about NTFPs, our case studies (1) focus on actual conflicts and not on potential conflicts of use, (2) favour a holistic approach to the local uses of resources rather than focusing exclusively on NTFPs. Our results show that gathering is mainly destined for home consumption and that its contribution to the monetary income of the households is secondary compared with agricultural commodities, bush meat and timber extraction. However, the perceived importance of gathering by focus groups is much higher than the actual economic contribution to livelihoods obtained through quarterly household surveys. Such discrepancy is probably due to the cultural importance of NTFPs for forest people. The article concludes that NTFP gathering is seldom a source of conflict between concessionaires and communities. Encroachments into concessions for agricultural expansion, massive poaching and illegal logging are the major sources of conflicts, which need to be tackled in priority.
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This study assessed the extent, patterns and socio-demographic determinants of community forest use and dependence for livelihood in three community forests areas in Fako Division, Cameroon. The data, collected principally through a questionnaire administered to 295 selected community members, was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science 20. The study found that most (61.3%) of the respondents directly use the community forest, principally for fuelwood collection (89.4%), NTFPs harvesting (41.3%), subsistence farming (40%) and timber exploitation (25.7%). Community forest use was significantly predicted by user's location (p=0.039), gender (p=0.011), primary occupation (p=0.00), level of education (p=0.00), income level (p=0.023), origin (p=0.010) and membership in Community Forest Management Group (p=0.025). Furthermore, it was observed that most (53.1%) of the forest users depended on the forest for 61-100% of their household food, energy and material needs while the sales of forest resources accounted for 61-100% of the monthly income of 57.9% others. The study concluded that community forest resources make up a considerable portion of the livelihood portfolio of many forest-fringe households in the area and recommended among other things improvements in the current land tenure policy to enable local stakeholders to fully embrace participatory forestry and the training of forest users on value adding activities to enhance returns from the commercialization of forest products.
Household Characteristics and Forest Resources Dependence in the Rumpi Hills of Cameroon
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Rural households have over decades depended on forests and forest products for sustenance and livelihood values. This dependence is usually driven by the individual household's dynamics, forests availability and accessibility. However, with overexploitation and agricultural expansion, these forests are rapidly declining putting in peril household livelihoods. This study aims at examining and analyzing household dynamics and how these dynamics combine with other factors to influence household dependence on forest resources in the Rumpi hills of Cameroon. Data were collected from 484 households, across 20 villages and at four selected sites through household surveys and 20 focus group discussions. Household characteristics such as uneducated heads (p-value 0.000381) significantly influenced the use of forest resources than male heads (P-value 0.000642) and years of residence (11-15) (p-value 0.00624) in the village at the 95% level of significance. Forest dependence was mostly conditioned by the household's ability to farm, forest abundance, and unemployment. Additionally, income from agriculture and forest resources respectively constituted 36.7% and 34.1% of the average total rural household income. Investment in climate-smart agriculture, non-wood domestic cooking energy, agroforestry systems and reliable rural transport systems is necessary in order to curb forest dependence and improve on livelihoods and sustainable forest management initiatives.
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Actors, options and the challenges of forest management in anglophone Cameroon
GeoJournal, 2000
Natural resources, especially the forest provide a means of livelihood to rural communities in most developing countries. Unfortunately these resources are under the threat of disappearing because of high population growth rates and poverty that characterise these communities. Any attempt by development agencies at conserving these resources is tantamount to depriving these rural areas of their survival base. Yet due to its strategic socio-economic and cultural importance, the forest ecosystem needs to be sustained for future generations. This paper examines the various challenges faced by the State and other conservation agencies in natural resource management and the possible options which can be employed in an effort to ensure a sustainable exploitation of the forest in Anglophone Cameroon. It discusses the efforts of these actors, within the framework of the emerging concept of community forestry, local community strengthening and integrated rural development. While highlighting some of the achievements of international NGOs like Bird Life International and World Wide Fund for Nature in the region, the study concludes that the future of sustainable management of forest resources relies on a holistic poverty alleviation approach that takes into consideration the empowerment of these communities. This will ensure that they participate and benefit from the exploitation of the resources in the form of local development.
This study explores the relationship between communities' livelihood needs and conservation strategies in the Bechati forest area, Western Cameroon in order to bring out the challenges involved. The study developed its ideas, discussions and conclusions based on the local communities' opinions and perceptions regarding conservation strategies. Data for the study were collected through questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, field observations, semi-structured interview and secondary data. Data analysis made use of content analysis and quantitative analysis. The analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and SPSS software package (version 16.0) for regression analysis, correlations, Chi square and analysis of variance. The results of the study show that over 86% of the studied population depend on forest resources for livelihood needs and support. Labour force had a significant impact on individual annual income (p<0.05) and there was a positive strong correlation between household size and the labour force of a household. Over 77% of the studied population are of the opinion that conservation strategies should first of all address basic community livelihood needs before looking at conservation values. Thus they demand immediate alternative livelihood support if they have to leave the forest for conservation purpose. They believe the forest is life and without the forest they cannot survive. Although a significant percentage of the studied population understood the objectives of the Cross River gorilla conservation project, community members still strongly hold perceptions that conservation initiatives are driven by conservation promoters for their own personal interests and benefits and in case there is any community benefit, this only comes in as a secondary factor. The community-based conservation strategy adopted by the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (local NGO) to deliver conservation activities in the study area has not adequately met the demand of the studied population. Thus community members' livelihood remains in conflict with the current conservation strategy. The main constraints to meeting community livelihood needs during the study were limited funding to adequately support alternative livelihood activities, limited program staff capacity and ineffective monitoring and evaluation of executed projects. This makes community members to constantly turn to forest resources for livelihood, and this poses a threat to Cross River gorilla conservation in the study area. The study concluded that as much as we need to conserve the environment for its value, we also need to make sure we maintain a balance between conservation values and human livelihood needs. Conservation initiatives need to consider community livelihood support as one of the main priority objectives of the conservation strategy. The study finally recommends the appropriate integration of community perceptions into conservation objectives through adaptive collaboration management.