Sustainability Assessment of Non Timber Forest Products in South-Eastern Cameroon Rainforests

Abstract

Non timber forest products (NTFP) are vital for subsistence and cash income. However, the question of how NTFP-dependent societies are likely to benefit sustainably from these vital resources remains unanswered. This study assesses the sustainability of major species of NTFPs in the Gribe forest located at the northern periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park. The local ecological knowledge on NTFPs was obtained from local people in the village. A total of 20 households were interviewed on the marketed NTFPs, plant parts used, usage, mode of collection, development stage of the plant organs, knowledge of the natural history of the species, their perception on species abundance in the forest, and local practices for conservation. To assess individual species vulnerability, the above-cited parameters were scored following a 3-categorized ranking system, using local people’s perception and existing data from forest resource assessment previously conducted in the area. Preference ranking was used to determine suitable species for enterprise development. The study shows greater economic significance of Aframomum spp., Diospyros spp., Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr, Baillonella toxisperma Pierre, Beilschmiedia louisii Robyns & R.Wilczek, Cola acuminata (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl., Diospyros sp., Garcinia kola Heckel, Gnetum spp., Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill., Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth., Piper guineense Schumach. & Thonn, Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.), Scorodophleus zenkeri Harms, and Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) Taub. in Gribe forests. On the other hand, greater vulnerability is reported for Baillonella toxisperma Pierre in this forest. The assessment identified great potential for market development for some NTFP and argued that the following priority interventions areas should be considered for sustainable NTFP exploitation: optimizing NTFP production through domestication (for both important and threatened species), creating a collectors’ network, developing processing technology, supporting the establishment of a conducive policy environment that removes all regulatory bottlenecks to facilitate market integration by primary producers.