Aim: This study aimed to quantify the socio-economic importance of the Bloc Kébé research forest, East Cameroon) to riparian livelihoods by assessing non-timber forest products (NTFP) collection patterns, use types, income generation, and perceived dependency for food security and health. Study Design: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted across six villages at varying distances (0.5–7.66 km) from the forest boundary, with stratified proportional sampling yielding 86 households. Methodology: Semi-structured questionnaires captured collection, use type (subsistence/commercial/both), annual income (FCFA), and perceived food and health dependency (Likert 1–5) over a 12-month recall period. Analyses included mixed-effects logistic regression (GEE), multinomial logistic regression, Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn's post-hoc tests, Cumulative Link Mixed Models, Spearman correlations, and two-way ANOVA. Results: Overall NTFP collection rate was 74%, commercialization rate 59%, and mean annual income 12,097 ± 17,773 FCFA. Distance to forest was the dominant predictor of collection probability (OR = 0.52 per km, p < 0.001), income, and both food (β = –0.15, p < 0.001) and health dependency. The closest village outperformed the farthest across all metrics (collection: 94% vs. 71%; commercialization: 82% vs. 64%; income: 22,200 vs. 5,563 FCFA). Irvingia gabonensis was 12.55 times more likely commercialized than used for subsistence alone (p = 0.018); Strychnos toxifera showed dominant health dependency (3.98 vs. 1.34, d = –2.55). Five of six focal species had significantly greater food than health dependency (d = 0.77–1.79, p < 0.001). Income, collection, and commercialization were tightly coupled (ρ = 0.686–0.868, p < 0.001), but interspecific income differences were non-significant (χ²(4) = 7.52, p = 0.111). Significant village-level spatial heterogeneity emerged for Termitomyces spp., Cola spp., and Trichoscypha abut. Conclusion: Forest dependence is high, multidimensional, species-specific, and spatially structured by distance, with proximity-driven inequalities in income and food-health outcomes. Conservation zoning must integrate these differentiated dependencies.

The potential of forest foods to address malnutrition, food insecurity and poor dietary intake is increasingly being recognized. However, most existing data presents average results of proximate analysis, overlooking the opportunities to document how forest foods contribute to nutrition, food security and dietary intake. In this study, food security was estimated using the HFIAS score while dietary intake was estimated using FFQ recalls among 720 households in and around six logging concessions in Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon. There was a high diversity of forests foods consumed, with DR Congo (FFCS=16.2) registering the highest number. Cameroon had the highest number of food groups (HDDS=12.5) while Gabon had the highest number of food varieties (FVS=24.5). Despite a highly diverse pool of wild foods in the region, most households (82%) practicing farming on logged land suffered from food insecurity. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the HFIAS score and the FFCS (r 2 =–0.26, P=0.0002), revealing that forest foods can play a role in ensuring food security and nutrition among populations near forest concessions. The chi-square test revealed that age >46 years, and access to income from business or salaries were associated with food security. Further work is required to document how wild forest foods can contribute to improved diets among these populations, including documenting the nutrient composition of more forest foods, integrating them into regional dietary guidelines and encouraging their domestication.

Background: In Africa, Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a species of high cultural, ecological, and socio-economical importance. This led to its over-exploitation, increasing in situ rarity of this species. As a consequence, a conservation alert is increasingly reported across the continent due to the risk of extinction of this multipurpose plant. Unfortunately, indicators of regeneration and conservation guidelines for this species have not been developed yet. The objective of the study was to evaluate the habitat, population structure, and dendrometric characteristics of the plant which are indicators of sustainable conservation. Methodology: A floristic inventory, as well as the vegetation transect method, was used in the villages Def, Karna Manga, and Karna Petel located in Adamawa, Cameroon. The analysis of variance was used to compare dendrometric characteristics across villages. Results: A total of 109 individuals of the plant were counted with a density of 4 individuals per hectare. No plant individuals regenerated in human-controlled habitats (bush fields and home gardens). Three species (Bombax costatum, Piliostigma thonningii, and Terminalia macroptera) were the most frequent accompanying species, as well as the Caesalpiniaceae family. Dendrometric characteristics showed a statistically significant difference (p ˂ 0.05) among sites. Regardless of the variable studied, the structure of the D. microcarpum population was unstable and its in situ conservation was more successful in Karna Manga. Conclusion: Conservation indicators (habitat, population structure and dendrometric characteristics: crown diameter, diameter at breast height, the height of first large living branch, and tree height) revealed that in situ conservation of D. microcarpum population was not sufficient to maintain this species in the study area. For sustainable conservation, less expensive and plant-specific ex situ domestication techniques are recommended to maintain species persistence in the studied region.

African forests act as sources of both plant and animal foods that provide significant amounts of nutrients and healthy boosting bioactive compounds. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge, perceptions and socio-demographic attributes towards consumption of forest foods. A total of 279 females in charge of decision making with respect to food preparation, were randomly selected from 12 villages in southern and eastern Cameroon, and interviewed using researcher administered questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the socio demographic factors and perceptions affecting consumption of forest foods. Baillonella toxisperma (African pearwood) (98%), Irvingia gabonesis (bush mango) (81%) and Trichoscypha abut (Mvout) (70%) were identified as the most nutritious foods. Among the animal forest foods, bush meat (11%) and Imbrasia spp. (edible caterpillars) (10%) were identified as the most nutritious. Consumption of forest foods was higher among polygamous families and also positively related to length of stay in the forest area, as well as age of female respondents. Education had an inverse relationship with use of forest foods. Perception towards the nutritional value of forest foods were also found to positively influence consumption of forest foods. Since negative perceptions were found to influence consumption, there is need to invest in awareness campaigns to strengthen the current knowledge levels among the study population. Key Words: Consumption, indigenous foods, perceptions

Objective: Studies were conducted to characterize the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from the locality of Mayo-Rey in the North Region of Cameroon for their subsequent domestication.Methodology and Results: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 200 people drawn from four ethnic groups (Laka, Lamé, Peulh and Toupouri). This study has identified 107 plant species including 54 species food (vegetables, fruits and traditional drinks). The species Dioscorea bulbifera, Burnatia sp., Parkia biglobosa, Detarium microcarpum, Adansonia digitata, Vitellaria paradoxa, Ziziphus mauritiana, Ximenia americana and Vitex doniana were identified as major species of this town, due to their socio-economic importance. Plant parts used in the diet are descending fruits (53.70%), seeds (25.92%), leaves (22.22%), tubers (16.66%), the flowers (3.70%) and other (3.7%).Analyses on food uses indicates that 40 respondents use them as recipes involve fruits and 11 use them to prepare sauce. Three (3) species are commonly used for the preparation of pap, 8 species for the preparation of cuscus and 3 species for the preparation drink.Conclusion and application of results: The exploitation of these species remains traditional, sometimes leading to overexploitation of the resource and therefore a loss of biodiversity. For sustainable management of these resources, domestication of preferred species could be considered.Keywords: NTFP, Biodiversity, Domestication, Mayo-Rey

Extensive areas of the Congo Basin forest are allocated to timber concessionaires. These forests also harbour and support village populations, including indigenous Baka people, who depend on forest foods obtained directly from trees (fruits, oils and caterpillars). Most food-producing tree species are harvested by concessionaires for timber. We documented the availability and abundance of three food tree species around four villages and in two neighboring timber concessions in Cameroon. Data was used to determine the importance of timber concessions as sources of food for local people to provide a foundation for governance arrangements that consider local needs for foods from timber trees. Discussions with concessionaires revealed that some of them have voluntarily refrained from extracting timber species of interest to villagers for their nontimber products. This is either to avoid conflict with villagers, or because regulations have been promulgated to safeguard these resources. The interplay between internal village dynamics, regulations and their implementation by forest guards, and the actions of timber concessions create a complex arena for addressing rights to forest resources. This paper provides information on the accessibility and availability of multiple use timber species as a foundation for negotiations and governance arrangements between concessionaires and local communities.

Many species of timber trees in Cameroon are exploited by logging companies for timber and by forest dependent communities for non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Quantitative analyses were conducted within and near forest concessions in Cameroon to determine the density of multiple use tree species that provide both timber for industry and foods consumed by local populations (fruit and oil or edible caterpillars), and how this has been affected by logging. Individuals of the three species (Moabi, Baillonella toxisperma; Sapelli, Entandrophragma cylindricum; and Tali, Erythrophleum suaveolens), including their stumps, were identified and measured on 5 ha (100 m x 500 m) sample plots around 4 villages and in 2 concessions. Around each village 21 sample plots, stratified by distance, were laid out along three transects extending 10 km towards the concession, each oriented 45 from the other. In concessions, 20 plots were established within the 2012 cutting unit after timber harvesting, using a stratified random system. Moabi trees occurred at the lowest densities: around villages, 22.8 +/- 3.3/100 ha of precommercial individuals and 5.0 +/- 1.4/100 ha of individuals of harvestable size (>= 80 cm dbh); on concessions, 7.5 +/- 2.4 precommercial trees/100 ha, and 0-2.0 +/- 1.4/100 ha harvestable individuals. Densities of Sapelli trees were not significantly different between villages and concessions, averaging 32.6 +/- 3.8/100 ha and 37.5 +/- 5.5/100 ha, respectively, for precommercial sizes and 9.5 +/- 2.2/100 ha and 6 +/- 1.6/100 ha, respectively, for harvestable trees (>= 100 cm dbh). Pre-commercial Tali trees occurred at lower densities (3.8 +/- 0.9/100 ha) around villages, as compared to 11.5 +/- 3.1/100 ha on concessions. Harvestable Tali trees (>= 60 cm dbh) occurred at the same densities around villages and on concessions (56.0 +/- 7.2/100 ha). Half, or more, of commercial-sized trees of caterpillar-hosting species were left standing after harvest on concessions (89-94% of Tali; 50-79% of Sapelli), reflecting constraints due to timber quality, market demand and inaccessibility. No harvestable Moabi trees were logged from the 2012 cutting areas, reflecting agreements between communities and concessionaires to leave them for fruit and oil, but densities were so low it will be important that villagers conserve those around their villages. Stumps of all three species were found around villages, revealing that mechanisms for negotiation are also needed among villagers with interests in either timber or non-timber resources obtained from the same tree species. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the contribution of forest foods to dietary intake and estimate their association with household food insecurity.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted among 279 households. Using a 7 d recall questionnaire, information on household food consumption was collected from women and used to determine the household dietary diversity score, food variety score and forest food consumption score (FFCS). Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score was determined and Spearman rank correlation was used to establish the relationship between consumption of forest foods and HFIAS score. Women’s dietary intake was estimated from two 24 h recalls. The contribution of forest foods to women’s nutrient intakes was calculated and women’s nutrient intakes were compared with estimated average nutrient requirements.SettingRural forest-dependent households in twelve villages in eastern and southern Cameroon.SubjectsHousehold heads and their non-pregnant, non-lactating spouses.ResultsForty-seven unique forest foods were identified; of these, seventeen were consumed by 98 % of respondents over the course of one week and by 17 % of women during the two 24 h recall periods. Although forest foods contributed approximately half of women’s total daily energy intake, considerably greater contributions were made to vitamin A (93 %), Na (100 %), Fe (85 %), Zn (88 %) and Ca (89 %) intakes. Despite a highly biodiverse pool of foods, most households (83 %) suffered from high food insecurity based on the HFIAS. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the HFIAS score and the FFCS (r2=−0·169, P=0·0006), demonstrating that forest foods play an important role in ensuring food security in these forest-dependent communities.ConclusionsForest foods are widely consumed by forest-dependent communities. Given their rich nutrient content, they have potential to contribute to food and nutrition security.

The trees and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) of the Congo Basin play a key role in alleviating food insecurity among millions of people around the world. Although many studies have been conducted both nationally and regionally on issues of food insecurity in the Congo Basin, little is known on the effects of timber exploitation on household food insecurity statues of forest dependent communities in this region. This study focused on the determination of the principal indicators of household food security status of populations living around six selected forest concessions in the Congo Basin.

Much of the Congo Basin is managed for timber from dozens of species. More than 60% of them also produce nontimber products, including foods gathered by local people. For five multiple use tree species in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon (Entandrophragma cylindricum, Baillonella toxisperma, Erythrophleum suaveloens, Dacryodes buettneri and Gambeya lacourtiana), we studied gathering and consumption by communities, the volumes of edible caterpillars hosted, the densities of trees around villages and in concessionsand the impacts of timber harvesting on the trees and their population viability. In addition, we studied the consumption of forest foods and the nutritional values of fruits and seeds of various tree species.We found that villagers walked up to more than five km during day trips to collect fruits or caterpillars, gathering from concessions if the village was within or near it. When food resources were gathered from trees smaller than the cutting diameter (which varied by country and by species), there was no conflict between gathering tree foods and timber harvesting. However the volume of edible caterpillars hosted by an individual tree increased with diameter and the most productive trees were those of commercial size. Tree fruits and seeds provided fats, vitamins and minerals that complement agricultural foods. Densities of commercial sized trees of B. toxisperma, valued for its edible oil, were higher around villages than in concessions. The proportion of commercial trees harvested for timber varied from less than 3% to more than 50%, depending on the species. Different species had different geneflow distances, meaning that viable regeneration could be retained with residual adults at different maximum distances. E. cylindricum had more effective dispersal than E. suaveolens. The production of timber and nontimber products can be sustained from the same concessions, for different stakeholders, with appropriate practices and arrangements.