Farmers’ assessment of the use value of agrobiodiversity in complex cocoa agroforestry systems in central Cameroon

Abstract

Agroforestry systems in humid tropical areas are complex multispecies cropping systems whose value for farmers is often hard to assess. We present the findings of a participatory assessment that we applied to cocoa agroforestry systems. This assessment, adapted from the pebble distribution method, was used to quantify the value given by farmers to each species of their cocoa agroforestry system according to the attributed uses. A tree inventory in 50 cocoa agroforests was carried out in central Cameroon. Overall, 122 non-cocoa tree species were inventoried. The mean species richness was 23 species per plot and the mean Shannon index was 2.42, for a mean density of 180 non-cocoa trees ha−1 and 1,511 cocoa trees ha−1. Cocoa farmers defined seven different uses for tree species, including Theobroma cacao. 81 % of the species (including cocoa trees) had one to seven uses whereas the highest use value was given to T. cacao, with a mean score of 23.6 %. Then, in descending order, the 10 non-cocoa species with the highest use values were Dacryodes edulis, Persea americana, Elaeis guineensis, Citrus sinensis, Mangifera indica, Milicia excelsa, Cola nitida, Citrus sp., Ricinodendron heudelotii, and Terminalia superba. The frequency of non-cocoa species was significantly and positively correlated with their use value (R2 = 0.914). Our results showed that technical innovations designed to improve cocoa agroforestry systems should take into account farmers’ knowledge to propose them systems so as to be able to more effectively address their expectations

Integrating local knowledge with tree diversity analyses to optimize on-farm tree species composition for ecosystem service delivery in coffee agroforestry systems of Uganda

“…For example, our results agree with those of Omeli (2011) showing that leaves from Ficus natalensis, Carica papaya and Albizia coriaria decompose quickly and hence such trees are therefore good for nutrient recycling. Our results also agree with Jagoret et al (2014) identifying Milicia excelsa, A. coriaria and Markhamia lutea as good timber trees, and those of Kalanzi and Nansereko (2014) showing that M. excelsa and Ficus mucuso improve soil fertility.…”

Biodiversity and Carbon Stock in the SODECAO Agroforestry System of Center Region of Cameroon: Case of Talba Locality

“…However, this diversity is much less than those found by Jagoret [45], Mapongmetsem [46] and Mbolo [47] who recorded 70.61 and 57 species in the CAF of Bokito, Mbankomo and the peri-urban areas of Bafia town respectively. However, the differences observed could be explained by the fact that cocoa farmers in Talba locality set up cocoa agroforests with a maximum implementation of SODECAO recommendations for cocoa cultivation (1111 cocoa shrubs ha -1 and at least 40 associated trees.…”

Trade-offs between crop intensification and ecosystem services: the role of agroforestry in cocoa cultivation

“…Four studies illustrate the role of trees in improving the livelihoods of rural families through production of timber, fruits, fuelwood and medicine, and in reducing risk with respect to cocoa price volatility Jagoret et al 2014;Somarriba et al 2014;Sonwa et al 2014). Three further articles illustrate how risk-averse farmers use shade trees as a long term strategy to avoid vulnerability of their cocoa systems against insect and disease outbreaks and climate change, particularly water and heat stresses (Gyau et al 2014;Jagoret et al 2014;Smith Dumont et al 2014). The relationships between management intensity of cocoa and the conservation of biodiversity are explored by Tadu et al (2014) and Deheuvels et al (2014).…”