Socio-economic and ethnobotanic characteristics of Plant use in Mount Nlonako, Cameroon

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the socio-economic characteristics of plant users in the biodiverse Mount Nlonako forest community in the Littoral region of Cameroon. The study evaluated the socio-cultural and economic characteristics of villagers; identified the different plant resources exploited in and around the forest particularly their medicinal use and the mode of exploitation, preparation and administration and user's knowledge of these plants. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 100 people from two purposively selected villages representing 30% of the estimated village population in the study area. The socio-economic characteristics of respondents, the methods of preparation, and methods of harvesting and route of administration of medicinal plants were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson correlation tests were conducted to determine relationships between socio-economic and ethnobotanic variables. The majority of respondents was farmers, married to one or more wives and had some secondary education with an average annual income of less than 100, 000 FCFA. The wide use of medicinal plants, high value attributed to them, informant consensus factor and fidelity level could validate the effectiveness and efficacy of the ethno-botanical practices of the Mount Nlonako communities. 33 plant species were identified belonging to 22 families used to cure 28 diseases. Asteraceae was the most dominant family. Leaves and decoctions taken orally were the plant part and method most used for medicinal preparation and use. 14 species were used as fuel wood, ten for fencing, 15 for timber, 6 for cultural activities and 22 forest products used as food. The collected data may help to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in this area. The findings of this study serve as baseline for future ethnobotanic, socio-economic, pharmacological and phytochemical studies of medicinal plants in humid Central African montane forest.