Ethnobotany and Prioritization of Some Selected Species in South-western E.A. Egbe, P.T. Tabot, and B.A. Fonge

Research

Abstract

An ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in 12 vil- vingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill. was lages in Manyu and Divisions, South-western Cam- highly prioritized for . Knowing the impor- eroon to determine economic potentials and priorities of tance of NTFPs compared to other tree crops is useful for eight non-timber forest products (NTFPs) tree species mapping agricultural sector policies but very little informa- and three tree crops. Gross farmer income in Manyu was tion on this exists, especially from studies in Cameroon. found to be 30% from NTFPs and 70% from established tree crops, while in Fako it was 15% and 85% respective- NTFPs are increasingly evolving from mere livelihood ly. The yield of tree crops (160-1047 kg/farmer/year) was safety nets with wild to necessary established plan- higher than NTFPs (0.3-273kg/farmer/year). Some 21 dis- tations and medicinal species (Focho et al. 2009, Hos- eases were treated using 10 tree species. Farmers as- san et al. 2010, Jiofac et al. 2009) in rural communities signed highest priority for NTFPs to gabonensis in West and Central as well as in other parts of (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill., Ricinodendron heude- the world. More often, research has focused on medicinal lotii (Baill.) Heckel, Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam, herbs, while woody species have received less attention, Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen, Cola lepidota K. Schum. except established medicinal such as Prunus afri- and Garcinia kola Heckel for their cultural and medicinal cana (Hook. f.) Kalkman for which studies have shifted to values implying potential need for their conservation. product development (Cunningham et al. 2002).

This study evaluated selected tree species as a source of Introduction medicines and livelihoods in Southwest Cameroon. Some of the studied communities are more than 50km from the Indigenous knowledge has been pertinent in develop- nearest health center. The prioritization of the species ment of commercial products and sourcing of medical remedies. Recently, focus in ethnobotanical research has intensified on medicinal, cultural and commercial/liveli- hoods ethnobotany (Banjade & Paudel 2008, Focho et al. 2009, Hossan et al. 2010, Jiofac et al. 2009, Simbo Correspondence 2010). Knowledge about the use of plants is higher within E.A. Egbe, P.T. Tabot, B.A. Fonge, Department of and Ani- indigenous populations. Rapid urbanization in some hith- mal Sciences, University of , P.O. Box 63, Buea, CAMER- erto ethnically homogenous rural areas has necessitated OON. the documentation of knowledge of plants while the cul- [email protected] tural/ethnic fabric is still fairly intact. On the other hand, urbanization is necessary for improved markets for Non- P.T. Tabot, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan timber forest products (NTFPs) (Ndoye et al. 1997). Fur- University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, SOUTH AF- thermore, to promote and improve species acceptable to RICA. local communities for other projects such as , it is important to first establish the preference for selected Ethnobotany Research & Applications 10:235-246 (2012) species. Ayuk et al. (1999) found in such a study, that Ir- Published: May 20, 2012 www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf 236 Ethnobotany Research & Applications based on both farmers’ preferences and farm-gate prices villages were selected; seven villages from Manyu Divi- could be used for integration of NTFPs into farming sys- sion and five from Fako Division. Subsequently, a partici- tems to improve on the farmer’s yearly income. It further patory rural appraisal (PRA) method (Chambers 1994) compared the NTFPs with established tree crops; cocoa was used to administer an average of 30 semi-structured (Theobroma cacao L.), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. questionnaires in each of the study villages, making a to- Osbeck) and oil palm ( Jacq.) with re- tal of 360 questionnaires. This PRA method comprised di- spect to yield and income generation. Specifically, woody rect administration of the questionnaires, and discussions NTFPs were targeted as they are likely candidates for with respondents. Each questionnaire contained 120 sub- agroforestry establishment. It was hypothesized that al- questions. In order to appropriately compare exploitation though established agricultural crops like cocoa, sweet or- trends with other studies, demographic information includ- ange and oil palms are the main cash crops in the region, ing age groups, gender, academic level and marital status the woody NTFPs could contribute immensely in terms of respondents were obtained. The ethnomedicinal, food, of income-generation, rural community health care, and agroforestry and other uses of the target woody NTFP socio-cultural rites. Therefore these NTFPs may be indis- species and established tree crops as well as their asso- pensable to the farmers’ livelihoods. ciated socio-economic data were evaluated. Concurrently, field evaluations were carried out to identify and match the species on-site to those in the inventory (Focho et al. Materials and methods 2010). Voucher specimens of the species were collect- ed in triplicate, identified and crosschecked at the Limbe Study site Botanical Garden Herbarium (SCA), treated and labelled. These were deposited at SCA and the University of Buea The study was carried out in Manyu and Fako Divisions teaching herbarium. Only specific NTFP species identified of Southwest Cameroon (Figure 1). These Divisions differ during the initial reconnaissance survey were studied, and in the level of urbanization, with Manyu Division still gen- the respondents were strictly resident farmers. Of the 360 erally more rural and indigenous, while Fako Division is questionnaires administered, 304 were retained following more urbanized and cosmopolitan. Manyu Division is be- elimination of incomplete and inconsistent responses, giv- tween 5°10´33″ N and 4°43´25″ N latitudes and 10°9´48″ ing a response rate of 84%. E and 10°2´38″ E longitudes. It has a surface area of 945,720.6 ha, and is a low plateau with undulating topog- For the economic evaluation, the yield of the different spe- raphy that ranges in altitude from 135 to 1000 m (Nkwatoh cies for both the on and off-seasons were registered per 2000). Fako Division lies in the coastal region between respondent and the farm gate prices recorded per kilo- 4°28´30″N and 3°54´26″N latitudes, and 8°57´10″E and gram of produce for species such as T. cacao. Other spe- 9°30´49″ E longitudes. The land area is approximately cies such as Irvingia species, Ricinodendron heudelotii 203,071.27 ha. It is mountainous, with the highest point at (Baill.) Heckel, and Garcinia kola Heckel are marketed in the summit of Mount Cameroon measuring about 4100 m buckets and basins of known volume and the price per (Suh et al. 2003). bucket/basin was recorded. The weight of the produce in these containers was measured and the price per ki- The main economic activity of the people in the study logram was estimated. Farm gate prices were used be- sites is subsistence agriculture with emergent smallholder cause they represent the true value of the produce to the plantation schemes. Seven villages spread across three farmers. Ethnomedicinal information generated included Sub-Divisions were selected for study in Manyu Division the traditional names of the plants, illness treated and (Bakebe, Bachuo-Akagbe, Etoko, Okoyong, Bachuo-Ntai, method of preparation/application. In describing how the Kembong & Ossing). Five villages were chosen for the ethnomedicines are prepared and administered the de- study in Fako Division, spread across two Sub-Divisions scriptions of the respondents were used, which give a (Ikata, Malende, Ekona, Bolifamba & Muea). The selec- clearer picture of the indigenous protocols. tion of study sites was based on population, farming prac- tices, and accessibility. The villages represented repli- The respondents were further asked to prioritize the spe- cates within the two main sites. cies, first on the basis of farm gate prices of produce, and then on the basis of preference by ranking five of the Ethnobotanical survey woody NTFPs they would willingly cultivate/domesticate given the means, on a positive scale of 1 to 5. The first The study commenced with an initial reconnaissance sur- species was given a score of 5, and the least, a score of vey to identify potential study species and the target hu- 1. At the end, the scores were pooled per species. man population. Mixed methods were used in sampling. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select resi- Data analysis dent farmers with low to high produce output, and con- venience sampling for the selection of study villages and Data were tested for normality using the Kolmogorov- the final respondents (Teddlie & Yu 2007). A total of 12 Smirnov test for normality. Data were found to be non-

www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf Egbe et al. - Ethnobotany and Prioritisation of Some Selected Tree Species1d 237 in Southwest Cameroon

1a 9o10’E 9o36’E 5o50’N

Mamfé Okoyong Bachuo-Ntai Etoko N 6 N 6 Kembong Bachuo-Akagbe Ossing 1b N 8 Bakebe 0 10 20

5o30’N kilometers N 8

1c

CAMEROON

Manyu 1e Southwest Region 9o15’E 9o30’E 4o25’N N 8 Divisional Headquarters D61 Malende N 5 Villages Ikata Sampled 1e Major Road Fako Ekona Forest 9o15’E 9o30’E Muea Reserve o N 8 4 25’N Divisional Buea Bolifamba Headquarters D61 N 8 Malende N 5 Villages 0 10 20 Ikata Sampled Douala o kilometers Major Road 4 00’N N 3 Ekona Forest Muea Reserve Figure 1. Distribution of study sites in Manyu and Fako Divisions, South-western Cameroon. Buea Bolifamba N 8 www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf

0 10 20 Douala o kilometers 4 00’N N 3 238 Ethnobotany Research & Applications parametric at all acceptable α levels (0.01 and 0.05). De- they can at least read and write. In both sites, there were scriptive statistical analyses (means and standard errors) significantly more married than single respondents (Fig- were subsequently conducted on the data to test for sig- ure 2). nificant differences within sites. These analyses were car- ried out using the MINITAB Version 15 statistical package Agroforestry and level of domestication (Minitab 2007). of study species across sites

Data on medicinal uses of the different species was pre- Figure 3 shows the level of dependence on planted do- sented in tables, and Microsoft Excel 2007 (Excell 2007) mesticated species versus those found in forests. In was used to produce a composite plot of the prioritiza- Manyu Division, most farmers (96%) harvest I. gabo- tion of the species based on farm gate prices and farmers’ nensis from their farms while Trichoscypha abut Engl. qualitative preferences. In all analyses each village was & V. Brehm is the species least used as a domesticate treated as a replicate within the main site (Division). (16.8%). In Fako Division, the NTFP most domesticated is Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam (77.3%) while T. abut Results and lepidophyllus Mildbr. both occurred least in farms (4.3%). In the rural site (Manyu Division) there was Study species a greater level of dependence on forests for produce; at the same time there were more planted farms of NTFP Table 1 shows species identified as important to the popu- species than in the urban site (Fako Division) (Figure 3). lation in several aspects during the initial reconnaissance survey. There were eight NTFPs and three tree crops. Economic evaluation and livelihood Nine of the species were indigenous while two were ex- potential of the different species otic tree crops. Table 2 shows the mean annual yield and income per Demographic assessment of the sample farmer for both study sites. Cocoa had the highest yield in both Manyu (959kg/farmer/year) and Fako (1047kg/ Demographic parameters of the farmers considered in farmer/year) Divisions. In Manyu cocoa yields were high- this study, across the study sites included age, gender, er than all other species but in Fako, cocoa along with oil education (literacy) levels, and marital status (Figure 2). palm (856 kg/year) and sweet orange (694 kg/year) yields The largest age group of respondents in Manyu Division were significantly higher than those of all the other spe- was 45-60 years (26%) and in Fako Division, 25-35 years cies. (30%). More males than females served as respondents in the two Divisions. Ethnomedicinal uses of study species

64% of the respondents in Manyu and 59.1% in Fako had Most of the tree species studied had medicinal and cul- at least the first school-leaving certificate. This is the ba- tural uses that complement their economic value. Some sic academic qualification in the country which means that of the illnesses for which some of these species are used

Table 1. Species identified as important to populations in South-western Cameroon. Species status: Indigenous (I), Exotic (E). Scientific name Family Common name Category Status Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Rutaceae Sweet orange Tree crop E Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam Burseraceae Plum NTFPs species I Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Arecaceae Oil palm Tree crop I Theobroma cacao L. Malvaceae Cocoa Tree crop E Garcinia kola Heckel Clusiaceae Bitter cola NTFPs species I Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Rainy season NTFP species I Baill. bush Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen Irvingiaceae Dry season NTFPs species I bush mango Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel Euphorbiaceae Njangsa NTFPs species I Mildbr. Country onions NTFPs species I Trichoscypha abut Engl. & V. Brehm Anacardiaceae Okoyong fruit NTFPs species I Cola lepidota K. Schum. Malvaceae Monkey cola NTFPs species I

www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf >60 60 - 45 A 45 - Fako 36 35 Age groups Age - Manyu 2A

26 Egbe et al. - Ethnobotany and Prioritisation of Some Selected Tree Species 239

>60 in Southwest>60 Cameroon 60

25 Manyu Fako

- A 21

60 50 60 - -

45 40 45 A A 20

- 30 15 45 45 - - Fako 20 Fako 36 36 0

60 50 40 30 20 10 10 Number of of respondents Number 35 35 Age groups Age groups Age

- 0 - Manyu 2B Manyu 15-20 21-25 26-2C35 36-45 45-60 >60 26 26 >60 Age groups 2A Number120 of respondents 180

25 Males 25 Married - -

60 B C -

21 100 Females21 150 Single 45 A 80 120 20 20 - - 45 60 90 - Fako 15 15 36 40 60 0 0

60 50 40 30 20 10 20 60 50 40 30 20 10 30 Number of of respondents Number of respondents Number 35 Age groups Age - Manyu 2D 0

26 0 Manyu Fako Manyu Fako Study sites Study sites 2A 2A 120 Manyu Fako 25 Number of respondents Number of respondents

- D 21 90 20

- 60 15

30 0 60 50 40 30 20 10 Number of of respondents Number 0 Primary Secondary High School >High School Un- Education Level determined 2A FigureNumber 2. Demographic of respondents analysis of the target respondents in Manyu and Fako Divisions, Southwest Cameroon (bars = standard errors): A) Age distribution; B) Gender distribution; C) Marital status; and D) Education level.

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Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill. Theobroma cacao L. Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen Cola lepidota K. Schum. Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. Garcinia kola Heckel Trichoscypha abut Engl. & V. Brehm 0 20 40 60 80 100 Level (%) of community dependence on forests and planted farms for produce Manyu-Planted farms Manyu-Forests Fako-Planted farms Fako-Forests

Figure 3. Level of domestication, as measured through community dependence on exploitation of forests and planted farms, for produce in Manyu (n=184) and Fako (n=115) Divisions, South-western Cameroon.

Table 2. Mean annual yield and income per farmer in two study sites in Southwestern Cameroon. Yield and income values presented as mean ± SE. Means with the same superscipt letter are not significantly different. †Extreme values excluded from analysis. Species Manyu Division (n=188) Fako Division (n=116) Yield (Kg/year) Income (USD) Yield (Kg/year) Income (USD) Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte 86.37±7.82a 189.36±17.15a 40 ± 15a 87.65±32.89a ex O’Rorke) Baill. Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. 11.61 ±2.95b 74.22±14.47b 0.3† 1.77† Cola lepidota K. Schum. 40.1±24.5c 53.79±28.65b 28.1 ± 17.9b 53.83±11.95a Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen 24.51 ±7.27c 188±46.83a 0.3† 1.75† Elaeis guineensis Jacq. 160.9 ± 40d 141.1±35.08a 856 ± 554c 750.79±485.98b Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck 591±133e 155.59±34.87a 694 ± 159c 182.62±41.82c Garcinia kola Heckel 12.47±3.52b 47.85±11.04b 36.28 ± 7.19a 119.32±23.63c Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel 6.099±0.92f 33.43±5.03b 0.891 ± 0.78d 12.21±9.72d Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam 27.38 ± 7.2c 24.51±5.05b 273.3 ± 73.9e 209.69±56.73c Theobroma cacao L. 959 ± 443e 1050.76±485.16c 1047 ± 298c 1607.19±456.68b Trichoscypha abut Engl. & V. Brehm 6.78† 2.60† 6.6† 2.19†

www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf Egbe et al. - Ethnobotany and Prioritisation of Some Selected Tree Species 241 in Southwest Cameroon as remedies in the study sites include impotence, whoop- highly prioritized in spite of their low farm gate prices. With ing cough, frontal headache, mumps, and gastric ulcers respect to the NTFPs, most of them scored higher than (Table 3). The plants are used in these cases either as cocoa, sweet orange and oil palms on both indices used. the main treatment or as ingredients in composite recipes. For the first time, a cocktail treatment for impotency com- In Manyu Division, the order of preference of NTFPs only prising the central portion of young oil palm stem, palm was I. gabonensis, R. heudelotii, D. edulis, Irvingia wom- wine, bitter cola bark and roots is reported. bolu Vermoesen, and Cola lepidota K. Schum. respective- ly while in Fako Division, it was D. edulis, C. lepidota, G. Species prioritization cola, I. gabonensis, and R. heudelotii respectively.

Results of species prioritization are presented in Figure 4, and illustrate that cocoa, sweet orange and oil palms were

Table 3. Uses of the plants for ethnomedicine, food and cultural activities in the study sites in Manyu and Fako Divisions, South-western Cameroon. Scientific Plant part Diseases Preparation and administration Food and cultural uses Names used treated Afrostyrax Bark Side pain Decoction used as an enema. The , and lepidophyllus Endocarp Asthma Concoction of endocarp with Ocimum bark are an important Mildbr. canum Sims. spice in most recipes. Seeds Abscess Paste is rubbed into incisions on the abscess. Appetite loss Paste is mixed with water and used as a tonic. Frontal Seeds are roasted, and its paste rubbed headache into incisions made with a razor blade on the forehead. Mumps Paste is made from the seeds and applied on the mumps. Spleen Decoction of paste in warm water and disorders solution used as enema, 3 litres every 2 days until symptoms disappear. Seeds & / Navel pain Decoction of seeds and/ or bark. Used as or bark enema every other day until symptoms disappear. Citrus sinensis Leaves Malaria, Yellow Steam bath of concoction of citrus, The fruits are eaten (L.) Osbeck fever, fevers pawpaw and mango. as a snack. Cola lepidota Bark, Cough, a) Decoction used as enema. 1&1/2 Fruits are eaten as a K. Schum. Leaves Whooping litres repeated every 2 days. b) Infusion snack, and are used cough from fresh leaves used as enema. to starve off hunger Bark Inactivity in Decoction used as enema, every during other intensive infants other day till symptoms disappear. farming season and harvesting/gathering Malaria Decoction used as enema, every activities that require other day till symptoms disappear. long hours in the Cotyledons Skin fungi Paste is applied topically. forests. Dacryodes Wood Eye disorders Suspension is made from wood charcoal Fruits are eaten as a edulis (G. and dropped into affected eyes. snack, and as a main Don) H.J.Lam The wax is used as an accompaniment with accelerant, and also staples like cassava/ to ‘activate’ other traditional charms and plantains and for others amulets. it is a delicacy.

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Scientific Plant part Diseases Preparation and administration Food and cultural uses Names used treated Elaeis Whole Inactivity in Decoction is made from Sap is tapped for guineensis juvenile infants macerated young palm wine, which in Jacq. plant palm and used as an some cases is further enema every 2 days distilled into Afofo. for 2 weeks. Palm kernel oil is important The nuts produce oil. in most traditional remedies. Burning of the kernel E. guineensis Young Impotency Concoction of the central part of the is thought to weaken & Garcinia stem and corm is scooped out, and it is mixed with opposing charms and kola Heckel sap from the paste of the bark and roots of bitter scare evil spirits oil palm, cola. Fresh palm wine is added, strained and ghosts. bark and and taken as a tonic at the rate of two Young fronds are roots from glasses daily until symptoms disappear. used in various bitter cola traditional ceremonies and dances, as well as in marking a hearse G. kola Bark Spleen Decoction used as an enema. Seeds are used during disorders libation in marriage, Seeds Constipation Seeds are chewed whenever symptoms childbirth and naming develop, until the constipation subsides. ceremonies, Seeds use as compliment with Cough Seeds are chewed whenever symptoms groundnut paste. It is develop, until the cough subsides. also an aphrodisiac. Gastric ulcers Seeds (nuts) are chewed whenever pains develop, until symptoms disappear. Irvingia Bark Yellow fever Decoction used as an enema. Cotyledons are used gabonensis Endocarp Frontal Decoction of endocarp ground into as a soup thickener (Aubry- headache paste and rubbed into incisions on the and a rare traditional Lecomte ex forehead whenever symptoms develop. cake. Dry shells are RO’Rorke) used as fuel wood in Baill. Roots & Malaria Decoction of leaves and roots is the rainy season when leaves boiled and used as an enema. wood is mostly soggy. Ricinodendron Bark Anaemia Decoction is taken orally as a blood tonic The seeds are an heudelotii Body pains Bark is boiled and used as enema indispensable spice (Baill.) Heckel in most traditional and Seeds Abscess Seeds are boiled, and its paste rubbed national recipes. The into incisions on the abscess traditional plantain dish of the Banyang people, as well as most fish- and meat-based soups must be prepared with a generous quantity of these seeds, to be of acceptable quality. Theobroma - - - Mucilage from pod is used cacao L. in gin production. Empty pods are burn and ash use as fertilizer and in local soap production. The fruits are eaten as a snack in both rural and urban areas. Trichoscypha Fruits Anemia Fruits are eaten as a blood tonic. Fruits eaten as abut Engl. & snacks. V. Brehm

www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf Egbe et al. - Ethnobotany and Prioritisation of Some Selected Tree Species 243 in Southwest Cameroon Farmer’s gate prices (US$) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Trichoscypha abut Engl. & V. Brehm Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.Lam Cola lepidota K. Schum. Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Theobroma cacao L. Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill. Garcinia kola Heckel Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen 0 40 80 120 160 200 Farmer’s priority scores Manyu Farmers Fako Farmers Figure 4. Species prioritization based on farm gate prices and farmers’ qualitative preferences in Manyu and Fako Divisions, South-western Cameroon. 1US$ ≈ 456.1FCFA. Bars are standard errors.

Discussion the sales agents as they generally have better knowledge of the market and negotiation skills. With men dominating Demographic assessment of the sample in NTFPs exploitation women have carved a new niche in NTFPs marketing and purchasing directly from the farm- Demographic dynamics in the exploitation of NTFPs are ers’ homes, and are consequently more visible in the mar- important in establishing user trends in this socio-eco- kets. This explains why ‘Market-targeted’ studies (Nkem nomic activity. Age is especially important in rural com- et al. 2010, Ndoye et al. 1997, Sunderland et al. 2004) munities across West and Central Africa where it defines would arrive at contrary findings. roles within the family. In the current study, the majority of the farmers were less than 60 years old. These results are Agroforestry and levels of domestication consistent with that of Blay (2004) who found that chew- ing stick exploiters in Ghana were aged 30 to 39 years, Besides the established cash crops, NTFPs are already and Defo (2004) who reported 85% of rattan exploiters being integrated into farming systems, with a higher di- in Yaoundé, Cameroon, were aged between 16 and 40 versity in Manyu Division where they play an increasingly years. Exploitation of NTFPs was previously carried out important role in agro-economic activities. This integration by women but men have intensified NTFPs exploitation in is as a result of both auto-domestication (the process in order to ameliorate their incomes due to increasing cost which volunteer species are allowed to grow on farms dur- of living and the increasing income-generating potential ing or following forest clearance without active farmer in- of NTFPs. These results are contrary to those of several put in their initial establishment) and cultivated plantations authors (Nkem et al. 2010, Ndoye et al. 1997, Sunderland (the purposeful planting and maintenance of NTFPs as et al. 2004) who found that exploitation of NTFPs is a fe- the main crop in plantations). This would improve the re- male dominated activity. On the other hand women are source base and consequently rural livelihoods enhance-

www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-235.pdf 244 Ethnobotany Research & Applications ment. Increased domestication would thus be significantly Species prioritization beneficial to these communities. These results are con- sistent with those of Van Dijk & Wiersum (1999) who sug- Farmers’ priority species are consistent with findings by gested that enhanced forest-based livelihoods could be Franzel et al. (1996). The current study however made fulfilled by optimizing NTFP production in agroforest sys- use of two factors to shed more light on the drivers of tems. Leakey & Simons (1998) had earlier stressed the farmers’ priorities. In both sites, farmers’ scores did not importance of domestication of ‘Cinderella species’ on entirely reflect the farm gate prices, and indicate that me- both livelihoods and the environment. dicinal and socio-cultural uses of these species are equal- ly important. Bulk-production of tree crops and with a wid- Economic evaluation and livelihood er market also explain why these species were scored potential of the different species higher in the qualitative preference index than those with higher farm gate prices. The established tree crops are the main cash crops in the region but are expensive to maintain and this may great- Conclusion ly reduce their profitability. Cultivation of NTFPs on the other hand is currently considered as sub-agricultural and NTFPs contribute to primary health care and the income seasonal. Most of the NTFPs had negligible expenditure of a subsistence farming family. These species are part in their production and also have higher farm gate prices of livelihood safety nets as they are often in season when per kilogram than the established tree crops. The dom- most of the main arable crops are off season. Farmers of inance of tree crops is as a result of higher production this region may consider the following factors; medicinal, rates and well established markets (Ndoye et al. 1997, cultural uses, ease of establishment and income-genera- Ayuk et al. 1999) rather than higher economic potential. tion potential in the selection of species for domestication This is consistent with other findings on exploitation of NT- which is an attribute for conservation of the species. For FPs by Defo (2004) who reported that rattan contributed any potential pharmaceutical product development the an average of 137,500 Franc Communauté Financière Af- target species are: I. gabonensis, I. wombolu, R. heude- ricaine (FCFA) (US$302) to the income of households in lotii, D. edulis, A. lepidophyllus, and G. kola. These spe- Yaounde and its environs, as opposed to 87,000 FCFA cies need to be conserved to reduce the pressure on for- (US$191) from cocoa sales. The market value of NTFPs ests within the communities. depends on both national and international demand (Ban- jade & Paudel 2008, Leakey & Simons 1998, Ndoye et al. 1997). Species with a larger and ready market are expect- Acknowledgement ed to have a higher market value. Of the NTFPs most pri- oritized, species of Irvingia, D. edulis, R. heudelotii (Awo- The authors thank all the respondents from the study sites no et al. 2002) and G. cola have established markets both for their consent and cooperation. nationally and internationally. Literature Cited Ethnomedicinal uses of study species Adewusi, H.G. 2004. Potentials for development and con- Ethnomedicines play a significant role in the lives of most servation of Dacryodes edulis in the Sakpoba Forest Re- rural communities. This is due to their relatively low cost serve, Edo State, in the Niger Delta area of . Pp. compared to clinical treatments in addition to the cultural 113-148 in Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conserva- values and low-income levels of the majority of the popu- tion. Case studies of non-timber forest product systems. lation in rural areas of Cameroon. NTFPs have achieved Volume 2. Edited by T. Sunderland & O. Ndoye. Center for dominance in primary health care in most developing na- International Forestry Research, Jakarta. tions of west and central Africa (Adewusi 2004, Awono et al. 2002, Hossan et al. 2010). The results of some spe- Akinloye, A.K, O.O. Igbarha, M.O. Olaniyi, O.O. Alaka & cies in this study are similar to those in other countries in B.O. Oke. 2000. Preliminary investigation on the effects which some clinical trials have been carried out in vari- of bitter kola (Garcinia kola) extracts on rabbit testes and ous phases (Akinloye et al. 2000, Olamide et al. 2007 on epididymes. Tropical Veterinarian 18:49-54. G. kola). Evidence of medicinal compounds and uses has also been reported for D. edulis, E. guineensis, Irvingia Awono, A., L.A. Ngono, O. Ndoye, J. Tieguhong, A. Eyebe species and R. heudelotii (Fondoun et al. 1999, Okwu & & T.M. Mahop. 2002. Etude sur la Commercialization de Nnamdi 2008, Oyen 2007). However, treatment of impo- quatre Produits Forestiers non Ligneux dans la Zone For- tency in folklore usually employs a single plant or plant estiere Humide du Cameroun: Gnetum africanum, Ricino- part like G. kola seeds. It is reported for the first time, that dendron heudelotii, Irvingia spp., Prunus Africana. Food the use of a cocktail comprising young E. guineensis stem and Agriculture Organization Report, Rome. and sap (palm wine), with G. kola bark and roots is being used in the treatment of impotency. (The palm wine prob- Ayuk, E.T., B. Duguma, S. Franzel, J. Kengue, M. Mol- ably serves as the solvent.) let, T. Tiki-Manga & P. Zenken. 1999. Uses, management

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