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Interest in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has increased due to their role in poverty reduction, conservation, and food security. However, data on the current environmental and socio-economic aspects of NTFPs harvests are sparse. Using secondary data from literature review as well as participatory rural appraisal tools, information was gathered on NTFPs collectors, and on the relative socio-economic importance of the main NTFPs collected, collectors’ access to NTFPs and sustainability of collection in major collection sites in the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. An estimated 5500 collectors of NTFPs operate in the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. The study revealed that NTFPs are important in the livelihoods of the village communities in the study area constituting 33% to their household income after agriculture (50.6%). The most important NTFPs collected in the study area were Gnetum spp., Irvingia spp., and Ricinodendron heudelotii. In important harvest divisions like the Manyu and Mungo divisions, the contribution of Gnetum spp. and Irvingia spp. to collectors NTFP related income is statistically significant (chi squared-test X2; p<0.05). Increasing harvests, combined with insufficient regulatory and customary control have led to a situation of long-term unsustainable collection. While NTFP collection is essential in providing income to collectors, their exploitation is failing to contribute in meeting environmental sustainability goals. This study concludes that domestication and awareness raising programs could lessen the pressure on the forest resource base and effective regulatory and customary control measures, if implemented and enforced, could limit over-exploitation and enhance sustainable collection and trade in NTFPs.

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The entire surface of the earth is visited by the birds in view of their aerial flights and variable habitats in search of suitable breeding and feeding grounds. Flight, intelligence, adaptability and sight are some of the attributes that add to the diversity in the life of birds, consequently there is complexity in their overall behavioral pattern. The key objective of this study was to assess the weaver-bird crop-raiding activity in Buea municipality on different environmental parameters. The study was undertaken for three months, six days in a week, from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Scan observations were made on birds' activity on a five-minute interval period across the entire study area. Simultaneously, data was collected on the environmental conditions. The study recorded a significant association between weaver-bird activity on crop-land, X 2 = 11.653 df=14, P < 0.005 and X 2 = 3.441 df=4, P<0.05 respectively. There was weaver-bird activity frequency of 51.63%, 45.35%, and 3.02% for Ploceus luteolus, Ploceus cuculatus, and Ploceus melanocephalus respectively. Moreover, a week association between bird activity and weather, X 2 = 3.125 df=3, P<0.05 was recorded. The sunny and cloudy weather conditions recorded 53.26%, and 42.09% respectively, while the windy and rainy weather conditions were significantly low (3.26%). An association was recored between atmospheric conditions and weaver-birds' activity on crops, X 2 = 23.249 df=21, P<0.05. In addition, the most destroyed farms were Elaeis guineensis (32.33%), Saccharum officinarum (19.77%), Zea mays (17.44%), and Mangifera indica (15.58%) respectively, and the scale of destruction was very prominent on the foliage used by the birds for nest-building. Maize crops and oil-palms were among the crop species most subjected to destruction by birds. These crops were observed with poor foliage formation and fruits, consequently they withered, and since the local farming population in this municipality predominantly cultivate these crops most, a heavy toll is often taken on the annual farmers' income.