IJFAF | Spatial distribution and species abundance area of Non Timber Forest Products in the Mount Cameroon National Park and adjoining forest zones

Indexing and Abstracting

Spatial distribution and species abundance area of Non Timber Forest Products in the Mount Cameroon National Park and adjoining forest zones

Georgiana Engomi Njoh , Clarkson Mvo Wanie

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DOI: 10.22161/ijfaf.2.4.1

Journal : International Journal Of Forest, Animal And Fisheries Research(IJFAF)

Abstract:

Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are an economically, ecologically, culturally and medicinally important component of forests which keeps forests intact and preserve the resource base of the forest, unlike the exploitation of the forest for timber. Notwithstanding, they are under threat in the Mount Cameroon National Park and adjoining forest zones from deforestation, over exploitation, unsustainable harvesting, logging, unsustainable agriculture and infrastructural developments, all driven by the galloping human population growth. There is need to determine their variety for actual and potential economic usage and species abundance area for increased availability and sustainability. This study was undertaken to examine the spatial distribution and species abundance area of NTFPs in the Mount Cameroon National Park and adjoining forest zones. Data on types and their distribution, plants part used and species abundance area was obtained via specie identification in the plant herbarium of the Limbe Botanical Garden in Limbe, reconnaissance surveys, purposive sampling, questionnaires administration, transect line technique and focused group discussions. Collected data was subjected to descriptive analysis in tables and frequency histograms. While the distribution of the NTFPs varied spatially in the four selected clusters, eight (08) species were the most distributed: Plum (Dacryodes edulis), Njangsa (Ricinodendron heudelotii), Bush pepper (Piper guineense), Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), Bitter kola (Garcinia kola), Pygeum (Prunus africana), Eru (Gnetum africanum) and Bush onion (Afrosfyrax lepidophyllus). Results on species abundance area showed that most of the species were located in abundance in the Mt. Cameroon National park, farmlands and community forests. It is recommended that intensive ecological and livelihood data on the NTFPs be collected periodically in order to track the change in the performance of the NTFP management status overtime.

Keywords:

Non Timber Forest Products, spatial distribution, species abundance area, forest, Mount Cameroon National Park.

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