Contribution of forest resources to the livelihood of adjacent communities around forest concessions: The case of Eyumojock area, southwest region of Cameroon
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The expectation of a healthy and buoyant future of the forests remains a mirage until community dependence on the forest is effectively compensated. Forest communities depend greatly on the forest for food, income, shelter and medicine, and will always agitate once their livelihood is greatly threatened. Objectively quantifying and sufficient compensation of community dependence on the forest is a key challenge faced while trying to balance forest use with conservation. This paper quantifies livelihood strategies for rural households, assesses
the proportion of household income obtained from the forest, and explore the relationship between the quantities of NTFPs exploited and the household non-forest income in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. 471 households in Eyumojock area were sampled using semi-structured questionnaires and PRA tools. Descriptive and inferential (OLS) statistics were used for data analysis. The results reveal Agriculture (Cocoa, Plantain, Cassava), Forest (Irvingia, Bushmeat, Gnetum), Animal rearing (Pigs, Goats and Poultry) and Petty-trade as diverse income sources in order of priority (75%,17%, 1% and 7%). With a Gross annual household income in the range 420 – 51,410 $ and mean gross annual household income of 5,792 $, 81.7% of households have a gross annual income in the lower ranges of 3,636 - 7,272 $. Increase in the quantities of (Irvingia sp) Bush mango (QIV),and (Gnetum sp) Eru (QER) collected will increase household income from non - forest sources (GINF). On the other hand, increase in gross non-forest income (GINF) will reduce the quantities of Garcinia kola, Irvingia sp, Gnetum africanum, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Piper nigrum L and Bushmeat significantly contribute to gross household income (p<0.05), with the quantity of Bushmeat having the greatest influence. Focusing on education and skill-building programs that will offer locals better employment opportunities, improve crop production and enhance the domestication of major NTFPs is a better option forsustainable forest management efforts.
Keywords: Agriculture, bushmeat, forest concession, household income, non-timber forest product.
ID: 3490013