Farmers indigenous practices for conserving Garcinia kola and Gnetum africanum in southern Cameroon

Abstract

Traditional approaches to conservation of Garcinia kola and Gnetum africanum were assessed by a survey of 15 villages (three per province) in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. Four major land use systems [evergreen forest, degraded forest, bush fallow (10 years and over) and food crop fields] were identified as major niches for the species. The distribution of the plant stands varied from province to province. Gnetum africanum is intensively harvested (up to four times per week throughout the year) and reported to generate substantial income (averaging US$2,630 per household per annum). Indigenous practices used by farmers to protect the species include selective clearing during land preparation for cropping, sustainable bark harvesting of stands in wild population, transplantation of wildings, artificial propagation and recognition of individual property ownership on certain wild stands of G. kola.