Local Perception on Wildlife Uses and Related Loss of Cultural Values Around the Nkwende Hills Forest Reserve, South-West Cameroon (original) (raw)
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Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 2015
Cameroon is known as Africa in miniature because of its multitude of ecosystems and associated biodiversity, cultures and traditions. The country also harbors very ancient human populations whose relationship with nature is very intimate and where animals play important roles for their livelihood. Located in the South-west region of Cameroon, the Nkwende Hills Forest Reserve (NHFR) represents an important wildlife conservation site because of its strategic position at the periphery of Korup National Park (KNP). The periphery of NHFR is inhabited by several ethnic groups amongst which are the Obang and Ngunnchang clans who share particular relationships with wildlife. The present paper studies these relationships and contributes to the growing trend of scientific ethnozoological studies across Africa. From August to December 2011, a questionnaire survey was addressed to 126 randomly chosen household respondents (HRs) in seven villages at the Northwest periphery of NHFR. In households...
The present paper aimed at examining the contribution of mammals and birds to the culture and related conservation issues in the Korup area, Cameroon. Structured interviews were realised to 94 households in seven villages. We found more than 15 mammals and eight birds are used in various ways for cultural and traditional healing purposes. The conservation of wildlife by the culture is generally unconscious through taboos and totems.
The present paper aimed at documenting on ‘‘family animals’’ and ‘‘village animals’’ used for traditional rites in the Korup area, South-west Cameroon. Structured interviews were addressed to 371 randomly chosen household respondents (HRs) in 22 villages representing six ethnic groups: Oroko (30.2%), Ngunnchang (20.5%), Bakossi (17.8%), Obang (13.5%), Bayangi (11.3%) and Bassossi (6.7%). From sampled HRs, 80.3% confirmed the existence of traditional rites in the use of wildlife among which “family animals” and ‘‘village animals’’. From the traditional rites reported on the use of wildlife, 34.0% and 65.6% concerned nine “family animals” and 12 ‘‘village animals’’ respectively. It is urgent that knowledge on traditional rites be documented for as many ethnic groups as possible. KEY WORD: Cameroon, ‘‘Family animals’’, Korup Area, Traditional rites, ‘‘Village animals’’.
2017
This thesis explores the socio-cultural aspects of hunting and wildlife crisis through data collected during 14 months of fieldwork in two Baka villages of southeastern Cameroon. The Baka "Pygmies" live in a context polarized by conservation measures on one side and economic incentives for bushmeat trade on the other. This thesis provides a broad view of how the Baka society reacts to a fast changing context where fauna has become a major stake. To do so, I analysed the way Baka hunt, consume, and commercialize wild meat, but also how they interpret environmental changes and their potential impacts on social structure and wellbeing. Through the different chapters of the thesis, I used an ethnoecological approach and combined data collected through qualitative and quantitative methods. Specifically, I used systematic surveys to collect data on informants’ (n=269) socio-economic characteristics, hunting outputs, hunting knowledge, status, and meat consumption. These data are associated with information from semi-structured interviews and from insights generated during long periods of participant observation. For the Baka, the acquisition and sharing of wild meat remains a critical symbolic and social practice, although the context of hunting seems to have changed to what was previously described. Nowadays, the Baka hunt and consume mostly small mammals, notably rodents, in a landscape seemingly depleted due to past over hunting. Hunting is not equally practiced by all the Baka: while most Baka have relatively low hunting outputs, some others –pushed by economic incentives and the unregulated presence of shotguns in the area– seem to be largely involved in bushmeat trade. Variations in hunting practices relate to variations in hunting knowledge and skills, which in turn are reflected on different social status. Previous patterns of status attribution to hunters are, however, being altered arguably because of the decrease in bushmeat sharing, notably by elephant hunting specialists. Finally this thesis shed light upon Baka perceptions on wildlife changes and conservation measures, a process that is mostly negatively perceived by the Baka, who express feelings of marginalisation and fear due to the use of force and abuses from conservation agents. This thesis is the first to provide a deep analysis of hunting in the current context of Baka populations. It highlights intracultural variations on social aspects related to hunting, such as diet, status, income, and social perceptions. At the applied level, this work suggests that current conservation policies critically need a full understanding of local people’s cosmovisions, reactions to changes, and the consequences of both defaunation and imposed conservation measures on their social, economic and cultural frameworks.
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011
Knowing the attitudes and perception of people towards wildlife conservation is a primordial factor and strategy. The success of wildlife conservation depends on the attitudes of the local population, their perception of concepts and strategies put forth by conservation organizations. Although people in the area equate wildlife conservation as refusal to access rights to bush meat, they are conscious of the further declines in wildlife population in their area and fear the extinction of this natural heritage in the near future. Questionnaires and participatory rapid appraisal approaches were used to collect information from workers of some conservation organizations (WWF-Coastal forest programme and the mount Kupe ecotourism group), Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and the local community above nineteen years of age. A total of 182 people in fifteen villages of the area were sampled and their relative frequencies calculated. Chi-square and ANOVA were used to examine the relationship between variables. Most respondents (83.2%) in the Bakossi Area of South west Cameroon were interested in wildlife conservation however contrastingly, 16.8% condemned conservation attributing it to lack of focus and refusal to access rights to their natural heritage, 74% said conservation is not beneficial to the local people while only 26% acknowledge its benefits. Following one year of questioning, interacting with people of the Bakossi Area has shown that conservation can be a success within and around protected areas. To change the perception and attitudes of indigenous people around protected areas, environmental education through sensitization should be encouraged. These negative attitudes and perceptions can be well designed with carefully implemented conservation programs.
International Journal of Current Research in Biosciences and Plant Biology, 2016
There has been rampant encroachment on Cameroons protected forest landscapes in the last few years. This has resulted to the loss of substantial parts of the forest cover through cultivation for agriculture, settlements, charcoal processing, logging and hunting. The principal target group for this research was the local forest community in and around Tubah Upland Forest who wrestle their living from this forest. The data collection involved an oral interview and questionnaire administration. The results showed that Gender and the awareness of wildlife laws in Tubah region correlated significantly (r 2 =0.726 at p<0.05) gender. Also, the importance of forest resources had a significant correlation with solutions to wildlife conflict (r 2 =0.379 at p<0.05). In addition, the reason for settlement also had a significant relationship with organizations mitigating human-wildlife conflict (r 2 =0.863 at p<0.05) with NGO'S such as CIRMAD (The Care for Indigenous Resources Management and Development) working to raise conservation awareness in the area. Furthermore, the investigation on the importance of forest resources recorded 67.88% on forest exploitation. Edible plants rich in protein accounted for 16.57% in the survey. Moreso, the solutions to human-wildlife conflict also recorded 77.78%, confirming very little help is given to local people by the government authorities. Finally wildlife contact rate recorded 11.52%, 8.08%, 44.24%, and 36.16% respectively for very frequent, infrequent, frequent, and no contact rates. This survey revealed the importance of the corporation and integration of the local community in forest conservation decision-making.
Universal Journal of Management
Current trend in the use or misuse of environmental resources raises strong sustainability issues and the need for preservation. But, should the environment be preserved at the expense of mankind? If the term 'sustainability' means the total subjection of the present generation to hardship and misery in favour of the wild (nature), then, 'sustainability' is not sustainable. This paper investigates into the quality of life of the Erat and the Resettlement community, formerly known as Ikondo Ikondo I of the South West Region of Cameroon using survey and retrospective designs. In reporting the untold conservation story of the two communities around the Korup National Park (KNP), primary data was collected from 180 participants using 5 point Likert scale questionnaire, and analyzed using the Taylor Linearized Standard Error Correction Technique. The result supports the hypothesis that wild nature is more 'valuable' than humans around the KNP as the population continues to be deliberately or otherwise subjected to hardship and misery. With an overall significant result tested using the Fisher's ratio, and while calling on the authorities to adopt measures that reduce poverty and provide social services and justice, the paper strongly advocates for a drastic shift from fortress to man-centred conservation. It is completely unacceptable that in the 21 st Century in Africa, man should be sacrificed for wild nature, no matter what, as he can conveniently live with nature. To achieve this global goal, conservation authorities should report the real impact of their activities.
Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 10(2):11-17, 2014
This study was carried out to examine the use of cultural practices in wildlife conservation. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 5 villages from the nine villages in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. A total number of 120 respondents were randomly selected for the study and data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. From the results, majority (76.67%) of the respondents were male fall within the age range of 50 – 59 years (62.5%), 61.67% attained secondary education and 80.83% were Christians. A good percentage of the respondents were conversant with cultural practices and its impact in wild animal conservation as 70.83% and 20.83% of the respondents strongly agree and agree respectively that cultural practices are used to conserve wildlife species. Religion, migration and industrialization were found to be responsible for the decline of the regards for cultural practice in wildlife conservation. Also, no animal was reverenced as a deity throughout the study area, although there was taboos forbidding indigenes/residents from killing or eating some particular wildlife species (Erythrocebus patas, Crocodylus niloticus, Scotophilus dinganii, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, Veranus salvator and Loxodonta africana). Moreso, communal hunting is still practiced in the area. It is recommended that new and holistic wildlife conservation policies that will blend traditional systems of regulation, myths, rituals, and perceptions with existing wildlife legislation in the country should be implemented to enhance conservation in this area. Keyword: Indigenous knowledge, Conservation practices, Wildlife,
Ethnobiology and Conservation
Several studies investigate the human dimension of human-wildlife conflicts, but human attitudes towards forest-dependent animals such as primates in the context of competition for forest resources are still under-researched. We used a semi-structured questionnaire and conducted ethnozoological surveys in order to identify the uses of Kinda baboons (Papio kindae Lönnberg) and the main factors associated with local people's attitudes towards this frugivorous primate, at the periphery of the Kundelungu National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. This study indicates that Kinda baboons are important to community members, essentially for consumptive uses, namely as bushmeat and medicinal animals. The association between local peoples' anti-conservation attitudes towards these baboons and observation of the depletion of co-used indigenous trees has been confirmed statistically, suggesting the perception of baboons as competitors. Also, even though the majority of respondents recognized the vulnerability of baboons to the depletion of co-used indigenous trees, against our hypothesis, most of them were not inclined to use these resources sustainably. However, an association between the frequency of encounters with Kinda baboons and park-adjacent dwellers' willingness to conserve baboon-edible trees has been established. We therefore support the view that improving the availability of co-used trees through reforestation or agroforestry is likely to alleviate the prevalence of negative attitudes towards tree-dependent animals. Also, in order to gain community support to protected areas and wildlife, pro-conservation campaigns in similar settings should not merely highlight the vulnerability of animals to the depletion of their resources, but also promote the responsible access of local people to protected areas.