FORESTIST
Original Article

Determinants of Dependency Between Local Communities and Forest Resources Around a Protected Area in Cameroon

1.

Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde Faculty of Science, Yaoundé, Cameroon

2.

Organisation pour la Conservation et le Développement (OCD), Yaoundé, Cameroon

3.

Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement (IRAD), Yokadouma, Cameroon

4.

Department of Plant Biology, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

5.

International Union for Conservation of Nature PAPACO, Yaoundé, Cameroon

6.

Ministère de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du Territoire (MINEPAT), Yaoundé, Cameroon

7.

Institut International d’Agriculture Tropicale, IITA, Yaoundé, Cameroon

8.

Department of Biology, Concordia University, Québec, Canada

FORESTIST 2024; 74: 189-197
DOI: 10.5152/forestist.2024.23011
Read: 447 Downloads: 229 Published: 14 May 2024

The relationship between forest landscapes, local, and indigenous populations is of interest to researchers and conser vation officials in protected areas. Ignorance of this relationship is often the root cause of the failures of many conserva tion projects and the implementation of management plans. This study, conducted in seven villages on the periphery of Deng Deng National Park, assessed the level of dependence of local and indigenous people living around this park on its forest resources. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 105 randomly selected households. The results showed that the surveyed households were strongly dependent on forest products. Nearly nine out of 10 house holds derived their income from agricultural products, compared to nearly seven out of 10 who derived their income from non-timber forest products, and about one-quarter from hunting products. Dependency on the forest varied with social class. Dependency on agricultural products and non-timber forest products increased with increasing household size. Although the exploitation of forest products may be leading to the degradation of forest landscapes, it is important to consider the dependence of the population on forest products in the implementation of protected area management plans and the development of projects and conservation program.

Cite this article as: Paul Roger Kabelong Banoho, L., Chimi Djomo, C., Moses Bakonck, L., Tagnang Madount sap, N., Endamana, D., Armand Ebouele, S., Melanie Nyako, C., Mancho Nasang, J., Peguy Tonga, K., Narcisse Njila Nana, E., Bertrand Weladji, R., & Zapfack, L. (2024). Determi nants of dependency between local communities and forest resources around a protected area in Cameroon. Forestist, 74(2), 189-197.

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