0960-A1
Henry Nji Foleven[1] and Joseph Latta
The concept of community forest is quite new in Cameroon. The government, through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and some non-governmental organizations (the IJIM Mountain Forest Project) is using all possible strategies to educate the population about the importance of community forest. In this study, we decided to investigate the social and economic benefits of community forest and forest management to the local populations of Juabum, Tumuku, Aboh and Ntum, which constitute the communities of the IJIM Mountain Forest project.
To achieve our objectives, a questionnaire and open questions with semi-structured interviews were designed to gather information on the role the local population plays in the management of their forest, as well as the difficulties faced and what benefits they were deriving from the project; and on whether they could differentiate between community forest and state forest, and the type of forest they manage (natural or plantation). The results showed a significant level of understanding about what community forest is, but the respondents were not as significantly involved in the community forest management. For the population to be able to derive the desired financial, social, touristic and cultural benefits, they will need to understand and implement the law n°24/01 of January 1994 Sections 37 and 38.
Cameroon is situated at the extreme northeastern end of the Gulf of Guinea. It lies between longitudes 8° and 16° east of the Greenwich meridian and between latitude 2 and 13° north of the equator. Aaron Suh Neba (1987) It is richly endowed with natural resources, with a wide representation. Of Ecological biomes ranging from law land to equatorial rain forest and Semi arid Sahara.
The concept of community forest is quite new in Cameroon. It was introduced following the 1994 forestry law and most communities have not yet understood what is community forest Atabong, et al (1994). The government through the Ministry of environment and forestry (MINEF) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are using all strategies to educate the population to understand the importance of community forest.
The Kilum-Ijim Mountain forest constitutes a significant portion of the last remnants of the Cameroon’s montane forest biome. The flora and fauna are unique with padacapus and bamboo (Arundinaia alpina) and (Tauraco bannermanni) respectively. Kilun-Ijim forest project annual report (1995-1999).
Because the local community through the Kilum-Ijim Mountain forest project (NGO) is being legally empowered to manage these resources., we decided to Investigate the role the local population is playing as part of the empowering process. More importantly, we also investigated the socio-economic ad cultural benefits of Community forest to the local population of Juabum, Tumuku, Aboh and Ntum.
The strategies we adopted were: design a questionnaire, that will permit the investigation of the history of resources used, trends in forest use over time with implications for management, 2) Open Questions semi-structural interviews to understand the current indigenous management systems. Leaders of the community forest management (20 from each of four communities were the main respondent. Model of the questionnaire were as such:
Do you know some of the resources in your forests? What are the resources? Where are they found in the forest? Do you have management plan? If no how is the forest managed? And if yes how do you use the plan? Is the forest you are managing a natural forest? Has the management of your forest change over time? If yes before the project or when the project stated? Is the forest you are managing a plantation?
Objectives: To understand the current indigenous management system. These questioning were undertaken with individuals, base on age, gender and use. (a total of twenty people were asked in each of the four communities).
a) Are women and youths involved in community forest management? If yes what parts do they play in the day to day management of the community forest? Can any person go any where in the forest for any product; or are they rules that are followed?
Who is entitled to use the products from specific area (e.g. bamboo forest)? How much of the resources do you collect each week/day? Do you collect, use, or sell the product?
b) Are there shortages or other problems in obtaining these products? Are there any problems or disputes in obtaining these products? And how are they normally resolved?
c) Are there any systems or practical protection to specific sites, trees species or forest area?
Hunting of wildlife is the main activity in the forest the only major species we found to be existing here now were: monkeys, rock hydrades and cane rats. Firewood for cooking remains a major activity in the forest and is carried out very regularly. Because of increasing distance few people have resorted to planting Eucalyptus trees for fuel wood. The women are found to be increasingly using lephrosia and cesbania as close substitutes for firewood from the forest.
The populations identifies medicinal plants as a life saving resources contrary to (Atbong et al; 1994) the population still uses poor harvesting methods, rampant bush fires, continuous forest clearing and the large number of people involved in the harvesting of these plants, some very important species can not be traced any longer.
Until late, the harvesting of bamboos has been an important activity to the local communities. Bamboos are traditional building materials. Most people now use Eucalyptus and mud bricks. Lumbering has been very common. They use crude methods harvesting, both the young and old trees. These are used to make native drums, chairs and xylophones etc.
In order to promote the management of forest resources by the communities in charge, assistance is given by the N GO. Forest management to the local communities had never been a problem to them. They thought the land was vast and enough for everyone. However, they have some few indigenous laws and at times punish those who violate especially on bush fires and burning. They are some how beginning to understand that only dry wood can be harvested for fire wood. The planting of eucalyptus trees though affecting water catchments could be a source of material for building and fire woods.
The populations, as a means to ensure availability of rare arid fast disappearing species of herbs for medicine has to start planting these herbs (In small scale) around their homes. They have been trained on harvesting techniques which are not yet fully respected.
The old methods where honey from bee hives could only be collected after burning and killing the bees is gradually being abandoned. They have been taught modern techniques for cultivation.
The Ijim mountain forest project is undertaking a large scale reforestation program involving the population. Results of our investigations showed that very few villagers understood the implications.
Going to the forest for hunting has reduced to a minimum extents Poaching still exist on some areas of the forest. Research on the quantity of meat from monkey poaching fell from an estimated 60% per weekly market days to about 40 within 4 years and these hunters live only in forest homes, and are rarely seen poaching.
The amount of mushroom in the forest decreased enormously. This could be attributed to the vast deforestation practices on trees where these mushrooms grow. Some tree species identified by the communities are being timidly replanted.
The Kilum-Ijim forest project is a project of Bird life international and the government of Cameroon. Funding for the last phase (1995-2000) was provided by the British Department of International development; the Global Environment facility through the Cameroon Biodiversity conservation and management project and the Dutch ministry of Agriculture. This project was established to conserve the Kilum-Ijim forest.
The project adopted the approach of working with the communities around the forest to develop a system of community based management for the long tern conservation of the forest. The project works with the communities to improve livelihood in ways that contribute to forest conservation.
The results of our study showed that there has been a little bit of improvement. The communities have at least moved forward in the process to establish a system of forest management. However, the problem of grazing in the forest remained a challenge. The community forests process is slow since the population is principally the aged who is not able to read nor write. There is still a problem of illegal exploration of the forest. Many people neglected the rules and regulations adding that some part of their forest land had been given to their neighbours. Bush fires are still rampant. A greater proportion the communities continue to believe that burning is an important factor in crop output.
Fisher et al (1994) stated clearly that community forestry recongnises the fact that villages must have access to the forest products to survive and the forest recourses must be protected and managed in a way that will provide a sustainable source of forest products for the people.
So, Community forest allows the rural people to:
Protect the forest and see the forest as a sustainable sources of various products.
Law N° 24/01 of January 1994 section 37 and 38 clearly defines this. More effort is needed to educate and implement it in these communities so that benefits from community forestry could be totally derived.
Juhan Evans (1982). Plantation forestry in the tropics, 12 pp
Kilum-Ijim forest project (1995-1999): Annual report - 13-16 pp and 23-30 pp,
M. C. Nurse, B. C Irwin and C. A. Asanga: Working guidelines for community forestry in the Mountain forest of North West Cameroon 20pp.
R. J. Fisher (1994) Community Forestry net Work. N° 003
Awake (May 8, 1998) can our rain forest be served
Aaron Suh Neba (1987) Modern Geography of Cameroon 1 pp
Peter A Dervees Social and Economic Incentive for smallholder trees growing 34 pp
Atabong et al Cameroon Forestry law (1994) 13-14 pp
Peter Branney (1994) Guidelines for managing community forests. 4 pp and 14 pp.
| [1] Ministry of Environment
and Forestry, Mbalmayo Forestry School, Cameroon. Email: [email protected]
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