Community forest use and dependence for livelihoods in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

This study assessed the extent, patterns and socio-demographic determinants of community forest use and dependence for livelihood in three community forests areas in Fako Division, Cameroon. The data, collected principally through a questionnaire administered to 295 selected community members, was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science 20. The study found that most (61.3%) of the respondents directly use the community forest, principally for fuelwood collection (89.4%), NTFPs harvesting (41.3%), subsistence farming (40%) and timber exploitation (25.7%). Community forest use was significantly predicted by user's location (p=0.039), gender (p=0.011), primary occupation (p=0.00), level of education (p=0.00), income level (p=0.023), origin (p=0.010) and membership in Community Forest Management Group (p=0.025). Furthermore, it was observed that most (53.1%) of the forest users depended on the forest for 61-100% of their household food, energy and material needs while the sales of forest resources accounted for 61-100% of the monthly income of 57.9% others. The study concluded that community forest resources make up a considerable portion of the livelihood portfolio of many forest-fringe households in the area and recommended among other things improvements in the current land tenure policy to enable local stakeholders to fully embrace participatory forestry and the training of forest users on value adding activities to enhance returns from the commercialization of forest products.

The impacts of human activity on mammals in a community forest near the Dja Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon

“…Although we cannot tell from one survey what role the community forest has played in shaping the mammal community, its presence may have increased awareness about the need for hunting sustainably (Ngang, 2015). However, several other factors could also explain why our study area remains important for mammals.…”

Discourses of Cultural Continuity among the Bakweri of Mount Cameroon National Park

“…Its park is crucial not just for preserving biodiversity, but for the Bakweri inhabiting some of the 41 villages surrounding the park together with other cultural groups that rely on forest resources for livelihoods. For this reason, state authorities encourage the sustainable use of community forests that surround Mt Cameroon-e.g., the Bakingili and Woteva community forests that local communities use for subsistence farming, collection of fuelwoods, and timber exploitation (Ngang et al, 2018). Because conservation seems to coincide with local needs, there is an urgent need to investigate whether cultural practices can endure under this system.…”