Economic and ethnobotanical importance of the genera Albizia, Parkia and Tetrapleura(Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) in Cameroon

Abstract

People use goods and services related to Leguminosae-Mimosoideae resources to satisfy multiple needs in Cameroon. Despite some work already done, information on these goods and services remains insufficient. To date, the contribution of these plants to the needs of the population is also unknown. The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the uses of Leguminosae-Mimosoideae by rural and urban populations in Cameroon. Focus was on the genera Albizia, Parkia and Tetrapleura. Socio-economic and ethnobotanical data were collected throughout the study area based on semi-structured individual interviews of 173 respondents. Analysis of the data consisted of statistical and descriptive analyses, to study the position and dispersion characteristics of the data and inferential/decisional analyses consisting of parametric and non-parametric tests. Species vulnerability risk index was also calculated. Six parameters were used to assess economic value of the most requested species. The results show that seven species out of nineteen divided into three genera, are used in Cameroon and have ethnobotanical values. For Albizia, we noted that the species A. adianthifolia, A. laurentii, A. lebbeck, A. zygia have been identified, while for Parkia we have the species P. bicolor and P. biglobosa and finally, the species Tetrapleura tetraptera, for the genus Tetrapleura. Results showed that the Leguminosae-Mimosoideae have an ethnobotanical potential to be valorized, even outside Cameroon. The promotion of these species would increase their exploitation potential basis and increase income of rural and urban populations.

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“…The diagnosis of the socio-economic value of spice species (I. gabonensis, R. heudelotii, T. tetraptera) in the Bertoua city and its surroundings of the East region of Cameroon showed that almost 86.2% of the actors involved in NTFP activities are women. As in the study by Tchapda et al (2022) on the Leguminosae Mimosoideae in Cameroon, the predominance of women could be explained by the fact that the surveys were carried out in markets dominated by women who are generally involved in the marketing and preparation of spices. For men, these are female activities.…”

“…They are more abundant during the peak production period and the price is relatively affordable compared to the season of scarcity. In terms of marketing of T. tetraptera, only the fruits are selfconsumed and marketed by local people (Tchapda et al, 2022). Sales prices and units of measurement vary from collectors to retailers.…”

“…In the East region of Cameroon, the exploitation of spice plants is an increasingly attractive activity for many people. However, despite their importance to the lives of many rural populations, much information about the socio-economic impact of certain species remains unexplored in some of Cameroon's cities, which hinders the ability to monitor, specie plants regulate and manage (Moupela et al, 2011;Tchapda et al, 2022). In the case of the city of Bertoua, the regional capital of the East Region, a study found that people have a particular interest in certain NTFPs (Bayoi et al, 2021).…”