Contribution of environmental products to the household economy in Cameroon: essential, complementary or trivial?

Abstract

The role of environmental products, especially of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the livelihoods of rural people has been underlined by many scholars though their actual contribution to household income remains debated. To some, this contribution is essential while for others it is only complementary or even trivial. In order to contribute to this debate, we analyzed the data collected through 474 household interviews and focus group discussions held in 13 villages in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. The results show that environmental products in general were collected by 96% (East) 76% (South) and 58% (Southwest) of the households interviewed. Though non-negligible in the first two regions, the financial contribution of environmental products to the household economy remains relatively low. However, many households remain attached to NTFPs because they reflect their way of life and food security aspirations. The highest relative contribution of NTFPs (16%) to households' income was obtained from villages in the East populated by Baka pygmies while the highest absolute household income value emerged from villages in the South (XAF 600,000/USD 1,091) where the performance was associated with both forest availability and the willingness of Bantu households to invest their time and knowhow in valuing environmental goods. On the other hand, agriculture was dominant in the three regions with an average annual income of 70%, 46% and 38% respectively for villages in the South, Southwest and East regions.

Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon

“…As a result of such diversity, the country is often said to be “Africa in miniature” [2]. These forest ecosystems provide a variety of goods and services that are vital for subsistence and livelihood of millions of local populations who rely on them for subsistence uses, cash income, or both [3]. The country’s strategy to improve the contribution of forests in poverty alleviation has put great emphasis on the development of value chains of non timber forest products (NTFPs).…”

Understanding the Coula edulis, Dacryodes buettneri and Irvingia gabonensis non-timber forest product value chains from Makokou, North-East Gabon from a gender perspective

“…In this study of three NTFP chains in Gabon, women dominated in all three chains and worked mostly on a part-time basis, as it allowed time for other livelihood activities besides harvesting and trading the NTFPs, such as farming and household work. Men engaged as traders only in the highest value I. gabonensis chain, is a common tendency with men's engagement in this chain in other areas of Gabon (Iponga et al 2018b) and Cameroon (Awono et al 2010, Ingram et al 2017, Awono et Levang 2018. The reasons underlying men's engagement in this chain can be explained by the fact that the trade-in high-value timber and NTFPs is as a men livelihood activity, particularly when customary rules governing forest resources grant men tenure and access rights (Ingram et al 2014(Ingram et al , 2015, and when men engage in larger-scale businesses and specialize in wholesale trade (Awono et al 2002, Pérez et al 2002.…”