Abstract
A study was carried out to evaluate the distribution, abundance and diversity of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve at the northern (Diffa), western (Bai Manya) and eastern (Mbalangi) parts of the reserve. NTFPs can be used as source of food, medicine, fuel wood and other socio-economic and cultural uses. Six belt-transects were use at each site to assess the distribution, abundance and diversity of NTFPs in this Forest Reserve. The southern part of the reserve was not evaluated as it was heavily encroached with cocoa plantations. A total of 50 species in 40 genera and 27 families were identified. 28 species were most commonly distributed in the three sites. These include Irvingia gabonensis, Trichoscypha abut and Cola lepidota, while Garcinia cola, Baillonella toxisperma and Tetracarpidium conophorum, Raphia species and Afromomum citratum were restricted to one or two sites. The northern part of the forest had the highest number of useful plants (3119), followed by the eastern part (837) and lastly by the western part (774). Between sites, Bai Manya and Diffa were most similar (Jaccard Index = 0.65; Sorenson Coefficient = 0.79). The western part had the highest species diversity (D = 0.92), followed by the northern part (D = 0.85) and lastly by the eastern part (D = 0.8).The results are significant for better management and conservation of this forest reserve. Key words: Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs), species diversity, similarity indices, abundance, frequency, anthropogenic.  
Highlights
The Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR) was established in about 1939 by the British ColonialAuthorities, mainly for selective exploitation of timber for domestic construction and export
Two major soil types are found in the Sothern Bakundu Forest Area (SBFA); the deep well drained yellowish brown sandy clay soils developed from old sedimentary deposits and the deep brown clay soils developed from volcanic materials (Ngole, 2005)
The distribution of the different Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) was assessed in terms of presence or absence of species at the different sites
Summary
The Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR) was established in about 1939 by the British ColonialAuthorities, mainly for selective exploitation of timber for domestic construction and export. The Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR) was established in about 1939 by the British Colonial. Harvests of NTFPs and illegal logging in the forest reserve continued unabated, resulting in massive degradation of the forest. In the SBFR, exploitation of NTFP which constitutes an important activity has to be considered alongside mainstream management of the reserve. NGOs and donors to protect the SBFR and promote sustainable harvesting of the NTFPs from forest reserves have not been successful, as the level of deforestation and degradation of this forest and its NTFPs (e.g. depletion of Gnetum africanum Welw.stock) continue unabated. It is unclear whether or not the present levels of exploitation and other anthropogenic disturbances in the SBFR are sustainable, and the effects on flora biodiversity are unknown. Despite the high value of some of the NTFPs in and around the Southern Bakundu Forest
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