Sustainable Utilization of Mangroves Using Improved Fish-Smoking Systems: A Management Perspective from the Douala-Edea Wildlife Reserve, Cameroon

Abstract

Fuel wood extraction for commercial fish smoking is the most pervasive threat to the sustainability of mangrove ecosystems in the Douala-Edea Wildlife Reserve (DEWR) of Cameroon and most West-Central African coastal states. The high rates of fuel-wood consumption are associated with fish smoking in this region and are chiefly the result of low fuel efficiency systems. In this study, we investigated the relative efficiency of two fish-smoking systems with respect to fuel wood consumption and time required for fish smoking in the DEWR. Using socioeconomic and forest surveys in three villages, where mangrove wood is harvested and used, we established that the annual fuel-wood off-take was about 42,839m 3. In addition, most of the wood is used for fish smoking in the Traditional Smoke System (TSS) method, which was assessed to be 70% less efficient than the Improved Smoke System (Eeyed/CWCS). The Eeyed/CWCS consumed on average 50% less wood than the TSS, and reduced fish-smoking time by up-to 65% relative to the TSS. This comparative advantage offers opportunities for reducing the incidence of smoke-related diseases in women and children-most of them involved in the smoking process-by reducing the time spent smoking fish and saving money from avoided additional wood consumption. However, these benefits can only be achieved through the successful introduction of the Eeyed/CWCS. This will require a broad range of sensitization, capacity enhancement, and further research on adapting the current model to local conditions of the area.

Bumpy road to improved mangrove resilience in the Douala Estuary, Cameroon

“…It can be seen that at the local and global levels, respondents acknowledged that mangrove deforestation and degradation is ongoing due to their activities (amongst which we have wood harvesting for fish smoking and cooking). These results support the work conducted by some researchers (Ajonina and Usongo, 2010;Feka and Ajonina, 2011;Feka et al, 2009). Especially, at the local level (except in Mbiako), many people (for example, non-indigenes etc.)…”

“…Very few fish smokers in the DER have adopted the "improved oven" introduced in 2003 by a national NGO, namely Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society (CWCS), to minimize the quantity of mangrove wood used for fish smoking. Traditional oven takes up average time of 21 h as opposed to the "improved oven" that takes up lesser time of 5 to 8 h conserving 40 to 50% wood used (Feka et al, 2009). The common fish smoked is ethmalose (Ethmalose frimbriate) or "bonga".…”

Drivers causing decline of mangrove in West-Central Africa: a review

“…Similarly, in West-Central Africa, exploitation activities are driving mangrove ecosystem change. However, wood harvesting is the most perverse indirect driver of this change in this region (Dodman et al 2006;Feka et al 2009;Nfotabong et al 2009). As pointed out in this study, about 50,769 ha of mangroves were lost annually as a result of fuel-wood harvesting from 1980 to 2006 in only seven countries of the region.…”

A Methodological Framework for Assessing Agents, Proximate Drivers and Underlying Causes of Deforestation: Field Test Results from Southern Cameroon

“…It is estimated that about 62.5% of the total wood harvested is used for fish smoking alone, while 34.3% of wood harvested is used for cooking and 3.3% for construction [32]. It has been estimated that one ha of mangroves can produce around 3.4 m³/ha sustainable annual yield of timber and fuel wood [33].…”