The interweave of people and place: biocultural diversity in migrant and indigenous livelihoods around Mount Cameroon

Abstract

In order to further understanding of the links between biological and cultural diversity, this study examined the role of forest species and biodiversity in the livelihoods of indigenous Bakweri villagers and migrants to the Mount Cameroon region. Surveys of resources consumed and sold by 118 households were undertaken in five villages over the course of one year. The contributions of different habitats and management systems (compounds, farms, fallow, forest) and species (native and introduced; cultivated and wild-harvested) to local livelihoods were evaluated. The study showed that indigenous households depend to a much greater extent upon a range of habitats and species than migrant households, particularly for subsistence. Indigenous resource management systems grow from historical relationships between people and place, and promote resilience, well-being and adaptation in an area long characterized by environmental, social, political, and economic uncertainty. The managed landscapes of indigenous villages can contribute to broader conservation efforts in the region, including those associated with the newly established Mount Cameroon National Park.

Forests, women and health: opportunities and challenges for conservation

“…Women almost always play major roles in the provision of adequate food to their families -whether cooking, marketing, production and/or gathering -functions key to the ongoing, day-to-day maintenance of forested populations. In or near forests, such foods typically include forest products (e.g., Colfer 2009, Ibarra et al 2011, Laird et al 2011, Ogle et al 2001, Powell et al 2011, Vinceti et al 2008.…”

Biocultural approaches to sustainability: A systematic review of the scientific literature

“…Therefore, such cultural landscapes are often seen as inherently rich in diversity (Bridgewater, 2002) and the need to continue traditional (land) uses such as farming is frequently stressed. In general, there is often a strong connection made to the use (Laird, Awung, Lysinge, & Ndive, 2011) and management of natural resources (Agnoletti & Santoro, 2015). While the papers range from a whole landscape approach to focussing on very specific features of such landscapes, for example, trees and hedges (Fukamachi, Miki, Oku, & Miyoshi, 2011), space is usually taken as the analytical entry point (Ciftcioglu, Uzun, & Nemutlu, 2016), or as an arena of interaction between humans and the environment (Bridgewater, 2002).…”

Deforestation across the World: Causes and Alternatives for Mitigating

“…Although the local, original inhabitants may not always be dedicated to conservation, they generally have a stronger connection with the land than the new diaspora. The locals can be considered "sons of the land", and they behave predominantly as long-term users of the available natural resources of the region [18]. Incoming migrants, on the other hand, are not as strongly tied to the land and are new to the ecosystem, thus they generally behave as explorers.…”