Abstract
A large community of scientists has demonstrated that millions of people located in tropical zones derive a significant proportion of their livelihoods from the extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Despite these results, questions remain as to whether the valorisation of NTFPs can sustainably contribute to the improvement of the livelihood assets of the extractors. This study therefore evaluated the contribution of NTFP valorisation to the livelihood assets of local people around the northern periphery of the Dja Faunal Reserve (DFR), East Cameroon. To achieve this objective, data collected from 215 households in 32 villages were analyzed using factor analysis, Mann–Whitney U tests, and structural equation modelling. The results suggest that NTFP valorisation significantly contributes to the livelihood assets of local people at the periphery of the DFR. However, NTFP revenue was not significant in predicting their livelihood assets. Moreover, the local conservation management practices were not significant in predicting the livelihood assets in the long run. The results also revealed that individuals who received training and capacity building on good practices such as efficient collection techniques, effective drying techniques, and good conservation techniques earned better revenues and the impact on their livelihood was more significant than for those who did not. These results therefore recommend that the way forward for NTFP valorisation lies at the level of improving its quality and the market.
Highlights
The importance attributed to forest resources and the contribution non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide to the livelihoods of rural communities living in and around forest zones has increasingly been recognized over the last decades [1,2,3]
We aimed to (i) evaluate the contribution of NTFP valorisation to the livelihood assets, (ii) evaluate the contribution of the revenue obtained from the commercialization of NTFPs to the livelihoods assets, and (iii) find out if conservation management practices used by local communities contribute to their livelihood assets
This paper assessed the contribution of NTFP valorisation to the livelihood assets of local people around the northern periphery of the Dja Faunal Reserve (DFR)
Summary
The importance attributed to forest resources and the contribution non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide to the livelihoods of rural communities living in and around forest zones has increasingly been recognized over the last decades [1,2,3]. NTFPs can be defined as all-natural products which can be obtained from the forest, wood lands or agroforestry other than wood [8]. These different products are used as food or as food additives [8,9]. The forests of the Congo Basin which constitute the second-largest forest block on the planet and represent one of the richest areas of the world in terms of biodiversity, provide a safety net to over 130 million people, many of whom depend directly or indirectly on NTFPs [8,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
