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Man and ecosystems are highly threatened by the abusive application of chemical fertilizers in a bid to enhance soil fertility and improve crop productivity. These chemical fertilizers pose serious health risks to farmers and the population at large and contribute to short and long-term soil degradation. Thus, this study was initiated to examine how agroforestry can contribute towards phasing out chemical fertilizers application in smallholder farms in the south west region of Cameroon. Data collection was done from secondary and primary sources and analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS version 17 were used to run the descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that silvopastoral, agrosilvopastoral and agrosilvicultural systems were the most dominant agroforestry systems, with different agroforestry practices like coffee-based agroforestry plantations, cut and carry fodder, home gardens, trees/shrubs on farmlands, cocoa-based agroforestry plantations, live fences, improved fallows and home gardens with livestock characterizing these three agroforestry systems. These agroforestry systems provided different ecosystem services to agroforestry practitioners with the most common being food, fuelwood, finance/income, and climate moderation. Besides food and soil fertility enhancement, very limited or no chemical fertilizer was used to obtain the other ecosystem services. There was an inverse relationship (p

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate farmer’s pesticide use practices and their effects in the wetland of Ndop. Study Design: A cross sectional study was carried out from January to August 2019 in Ndop, North West Region of Cameroon. Methodology: Questionnaires were administered separately to 382 rice and 100 vegetable farmers, and descriptive statistics was used in analyzing the results. Specifically, the Chi-squared statistic was used to determine the nature of the relationship between the variables. Results: The results showed that most of the crop fields (95.6%) lack a buffer zone since most farms were adjacent to water bodies (0 ≥farm ≥1 m). Farmers (100%) washed and rinsed knapsack sprayers in nearby water bodies. A majority of the farmers (71.3%) burnt or threw empty pesticide containers in open fields, water bodies, or nearby bushes. Both rice farmers (83.5%) and vegetable farmers (100%) reported that pesticides kill non-target organisms (fish, frogs, toad, snakes, birds, etc.) resulting into a drastic population decline in the wetland. A majority of the farmers (85.2%) no longer do fishing in the paddy fields because of the frequent fish decline caused by pesticide usage. Clarias gariepinus constituted 56% of the fish species harvested from the paddy fields and a drastic population decline was observed by the farmers. The average fish catch per month was low (12.22 kg ± 7.47 SD) relative to the past when pesticides were not used during cultivation. There was a significant difference between training and environmental awareness of pesticides (X2 = 28.98, p = 0.001). Conclusion: These results indicate an urgent need for a post-pesticide registration management strategy to ensure a sustainable management and conservation of the wetland resources of Ndop.

Confronted with climate change, farmers are increasingly resorting to sustainable agricultural practices like agroforestry as an adaptation measure to the adverse effects of climate change. In this perspective, this study assessed different agroforestry systems and the components there in, as well as the factors affecting farmers’ choice of agroforestry systems as adaptation measures to climate change in Cameroon. Mainly primary data were collected through household and field surveys. The factors affecting smallholder farmers’ choice of agroforestry systems faced with climate change were analysed using the multinomial logistic regression model. Findings revealed that the agroforestry systems practiced by farmers as adaptation measures to climate change were agrosilvicultural system (43.71%), silvipastoral agroforestry system (11.43%) and agrosilvipastoral system (24.28%). Three main components, namely crops, trees/shrubs and livestock, were integrated in these agroforestry systems by small-scale farmers to enhance adaptation when confronted with climate change adversities. The multinomial logistic regression model revealed the existence of a cause–effect relationship (p

This study is being carried out in the cross-border area of the tri-national Dja-Odzala-Minkebe (TRIDOM), subject of a cooperation agreement between Cameroon, Congo and Gabon in 2005. The purpose of this study is to analyze the dynamics of changes in land use in the context of cross-border cooperation. Geographic information systems and remote sensing were used to produce the various land use maps. For this purpose, the MERIS satellite images for the periods 1992, 2005 and 2018 were used. The exploration of the different images and the field visits made it possible to identify the following six land use classes: dense forests, degraded/deforested forests, savannas, swamp forests, buildings and bare soils, water surfaces. It emerges that the TRIDOM landscape is mainly occupied by dense forests which represent 97.02%, 96.72% and 96.52% respectively in 1992, 2005 and 2018. Then, degraded/deforested forests and savannas which would correspond to cultivation areas and fallow land only represent respectively 1.06% and 0.68% of the landscape in 1992. This proportion in 2005 is respectively 1.22% and 0.77%, whereas in 2018, it is respectively 1.36% and 0.81% of the massif. The landscape of TRIDOM has not experienced any significant land use change during the period after the signing of the cooperation agreement. Historical rates of deforestation are low during the period under study. They are estimated at 0.042% and 0.030% respectively for the period 1992-2005 and the period 2005-2018. These low rates of deforestation seem to be due to the measures taken to secure and sustainably manage the massif taken by the three countries, the low population density in this area and the still difficult level of accessibility of a large part of the massif.

Faced with the adverse effects of climate variability and change (CVC), agro-ecological farming practices like agroforestry are crucial especially for smallholder farmers who are extremely vulnerable. It was within this context that this study appraised smallholder farmers’ agroforestry practices faced with climate change adversities. Biophysical and socio-economic data were collected from ten villages in Cameroon. Findings showed that climate parameters have experienced significant fluctuations in the past five decades. Smallholder farmers practice several agroforestry practices and integrate a plethora of tree/shrub species on agroforestry plots in order to adapt to climate change. Six main types of agroforestry trees/shrub species (trees/shrubs used for fuelwood, fruits, building materials, fodder, soil improvement, medicines) were integrated by smallholder farmers within agroforestry plots. T test and Chi-square test statistics indicated a strong non-causal relationship between explanatory variables (institutional and socio-economic attributes) and smallholder farmers’ agroforestry practicing decision faced with CVC. Logistic regression showed that a strong positive causal relationship exists between four explanatory variables (age of household head, access to information, access to credit and degree of vulnerability) and smallholder farmers’ agroforestry practicing decision faced with CVC. The study therefore recommends that institutional and socio-economic factors (credit facilities and reliable information) fostering smallholder farmers’ practice of agroforestry faced with CVC should be provided by governmental and non-governmental agencies in order to enhance the odds of smallholder farmers practicing agroforestry faced with the adverse effects of CVC.

Landsat 8 OLI imageries were used in order to increase data on the distribution and carbon stocks of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro in the Guinea savannah of Cameroon, Eight circular plo...

La présente étude vise à caractériser, sur 32 ans entre 1986 et 2018, les mutations spatio-temporelles qu’a connu la zone du Moungo dans la Région du Littoral au Cameroun en raison de l’expansion des plantations bananières et des diverses pressions dans l’utilisation des ressources. Les images satellitaires Landsat de 1986, 2001 et 2018 ont été exploitées à l’aide de la télédétection et des SIG. La classification non supervisée a permis d’obtenir huit classes d’occupation du sol (forêt dense, forêt claire, plantation et champs de cultures, sols nus, zone habitée, savane herbeuse et surface d’eau). La tendance évolutive des formations végétales est essentiellement régressive pour les forêts dense et claire avec une diminution de 336 924,51 ha à 272 887,04 ha entre 1986 et 2018, soit un taux de régression de 16,54% de la superficie totale. Par contre, elle est progressive pour les plantations/champs de cultures, savanes herbeuses, et zones habitées dont les superficies sont passées de 50 231,24 ha en 1986 à 111 325,41 ha en 2018 soit un taux de progression de 15,77%. Les facteurs de cette dégradation sont principalement d’ordres humains (agriculture, surpâturage et démographie galopante) et se traduit par la fragmentation des formations végétales naturelles au profit des surfaces cultivées et des zones d’habitations. Mots clés : Classes d’occupation du sol, facteurs de dégradation, Systèmes d’Information Géographique, Moungo-Cameroun. English Title: Spatio-temporal dynamic of land use change in the Moungo division, Littoral Region, Cameroon : influence on the expansion of banana-based agroforestry systems This study aims to characterize, over a 32-year period between 1986 and 2018, the spatial and temporal changes that occurs in the Moungo division located in the Littoral Region of Cameroon has undergone due to expansion bananas plantation and various pressures in the natural resources use. Landsat satellite images from 1986, 2001 and 2018 were exploited using remote sensing and GIS. The unsupervised classification yielded eight land use classes (dense forest, open forest, plantation and croplands, bare soil, inhabited area, herbaceous savannah and water plans). The evolutionary trend of vegetation formations is essentially regressive for dense and open forest with a decrease from 336 924.51 ha to 272 887.04 ha between 1986 and 2018, indicating a regression rate of 16.54% of the total area. On the other hand, it is progressive for plantations/croplands, herbaceous savannas, and inhabited areas, whose areas increased from 50 231.24 ha in 1986 to 111 325.41 ha in 2018, thus an increment rate of 15.77%. The degradation factors are mainly anthropogenic and include agriculture, overgrazing and increasing human population. As a result, the natural vegetation is being fragmented and transformed into cultivated areas and human inhabitations.Keywords : Land use classes, degradation factors, Geographical Information Systems, Moungo-Cameroon.

Agricultural productivity depends largely on the fertility of the soil. However, in recent years, soil infertility has been the trend across the world driven mainly by climate change and poor agricultural practices. In sub-Saharan Africa in general and Cameroon in particular, soil infertility is a major stumbling block to the growth of the agricultural sector. It was within this backdrop that this study was carried out to ascertain the role that agroforestry can play towards enhancing soil fertility in agricultural systems in south western Cameroon. Both biophysical and socio-economic data were collected and analyzed using Excel 2013 and SPSS 17.0 through descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that the main constraints to crop productivity were inaccessibility to improved planting materials (100%) and little or no control of stress factors like soil infertility (100%). Farmers made use of different types of agrochemicals with the most common being insecticides and fungicides. Three main agroforestry systems namely agrosilvicultural (93%), agrosilvopastoral (70%) and silvopastoral (31%) systems were practiced by farmers. The most common indicators of soil infertility identified by farmers were decline in crop yields (100%), rotting of tubers (100%) and wilting of crop stems (100%). The most common practices used to counter soil infertility were agro-chemicals, fowl droppings, improved planting seeds, erosion controlled farming, horizontal bunds or ridges on steep terrain, and agroforestry. The main impacts of soil infertility on farmers were difficulties in feeding, difficulties attending to social needs of children and the family, and financial difficulties. Farmers’ vulnerability to the adverse effects of soil infertility were exacerbated by high prices of inputs, low prices of farm produce, poor seeds/planting materials and bad roads. Live fences and scattered trees on croplands were the two most common agroforestry practices of farmers confronted with soil infertility. Analysis of different soil parameters (N, P, K and others) showed that scattered trees on croplands contributed more towards improving soil fertility which could be attributed to the diverse nature of the tree species found in the system and the dispersed nature of the trees on the entire farmland. Based on these findings, we recommend that more farmers adopt the practice of scattered trees on croplands in order to improve the fertility of their farmlands. Policy makers should also put in place favourable policies which encourage the practice of agroforestry.

Understanding the mechanisms governing the coexistence of organisms is an important question in ecology, and providing potential solutions contributes to conservation science. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of several mechanisms to the coexistence of two sympatric frugivores, using western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a tropical rainforest of southeast Cameroon as a model system. We collected great ape fecal samples to determine and classify fruit species consumed; we conducted great ape nest surveys to evaluate seasonal patterns of habitat use; and we collected botanical data to investigate the distribution of plant species across habitat types in relation to their “consumption traits” (which indicate whether plants are preferred or fallback for either gorilla, chimpanzee, or both). We found that patterns of habitat use varied seasonally for both gorillas and chimpanzees and that gorilla and chimpanzee preferred and fallback fruits differed. Also, the distribution of plant consumption traits was influenced by habitat type and matched accordingly with the patterns of habitat use by gorillas and chimpanzees. We show that neither habitat selection nor fruit preference alone can explain the coexistence of gorillas and chimpanzees, but that considering together the distribution of plant consumption traits of fruiting woody plants across habitats as well as the pattern of fruit availability may contribute to explaining coexistence. This supports the assumptions of niche theory with dominant and subordinate species in heterogeneous landscapes, whereby a species may prefer nesting in habitats where it is less subject to competitive exclusion and where food availability is higher. To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the contribution of plant consumption traits, seasonality, and habitat heterogeneity to enabling the coexistence of two sympatric frugivores. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.ms65f29.

Fighting climate change and its nefarious effects is at the forefront of the United Nations’ SDGs, agenda 2030. This comes at a time when the global climate is changing rapidly owing to increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere resulting principally from fossil fuel combustion and agricultural lands taking the place of tropical forests. Climate change threatens human existence in general and the livelihood of smallholder farmers in particular in the 21st century. Research shows that the developing world has about 500 million small-scale farms, with almost two billion people implicated, a majority of them in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where small-scale farms produce about 80% of the food consumed. Hence, smallholder farmers will bear the greatest brunt of predicted changes in climatic patterns owing to their limited adaptive capacity. Small-scale farmers being appallingly vulnerable, easily succumb to climate-induced extreme weather events, thus threatening food security. It is therefore within this backdrop that the necessity to document and promote climate-smart, sustainable, productive and low cost agricultural practices becomes incumbent. Agroforestry is one of the few existing practices that contribute simultaneously to agricultural sustainability enhancement as well as improved farm productivity owing to its ability to provide many ecosystem services. There are currently very few existing agricultural practices where sustainable agricultural goals can be attained through simultaneous enhancement of agro-ecosystem diversity and farm productivity as in agroforestry systems. Today, few studies have looked into the contribution of agroforestry to beefing up agricultural sustainability and productivity in the context of climate change. This review paper therefore sought to research on what has been done so far as well as look into the way forward with focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Key words: Climate change, agroforestry practices, agricultural sustainability, agricultural productivity, sub-Saharan Africa

Njansang -Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex Pax.- is a commonly traded non-timber forest product from Central African humid forests, used as a spice. South West Cameroon was selected as major production area and market where little data exist on the contribution of njansang to stakeholders livelihoods in the value chain. Interviews were used to gather information from 261 harvesters, traders and processing enterprises. From 2013 to 2015, 65.8 tons were harvested, with 13.17 tons traded in markets in the South West Region and in Nigeria for a value of €33,511. The ease of accessing markets makes a significant difference to the quantity harvested and contribution to harvesters’ household income. Average profit for harvesters is higher in regional markets than in local ones. Harvester’s profits were higher than buy’amsell’ams, retailers and exporters. Processors add the most value and earn the highest unit profits. Livelihood dependence upon njansang decreases along the chain, with harvesters more dependent than traders. Seasonality, corruption, storage and processing, influence price. Long-term value chain sustainability could be improved by increasing collaboration between stakeholders, collective action, disseminating knowledge about processing and storage techniques, and promoting domestication and cultivation to enable trade in this largely wild harvested NTFP to continue sustainably.

Small-scale farmers’ limited adaptive capacity confronted with the adversities of climate change is a major call for concern considering that small-scale farms feed over half of the world’s population. In this light, small-scale farmers’ adaptive choices and adaptive capacity to climate change were assessed. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources using a mixed research approach. Findings revealed that extreme weather events have been recurrent and small-scale farmers perceived access to land, household income, and the planting of trees/shrubs on farms (agroforestry) as the main factors influencing their capacity to adapt to climate change. Agroforestry and monoculture practices were the main adaptive choices of small-scale farmers confronted with climate change. T-test and chi-square test statistics revealed a strong non-cause-effect relationship (p p

Agriculture is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climatic variations and changes (CVC). Smallholder farmers in particular bear the brunt of adverse climate variations and changes. It was within this background that this paper assessed climatic variations and changes, and the drivers of smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to adverse climatic changes in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Secondary data (temperature and rainfall data) and primary data (obtained through a household survey of 350 smallholder farmers) were used for the study. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. It was found that, smallholder farmers perceived relatively high temperatures, intense sunshine, and erratic and scanty rainfall. Rising temperature, intense sunshine and scanty rainfall recurred annually. Recurrent extreme weather events and poverty were perceived as the major causes of vulnerability to climatic variations and changes. Most smallholder farmers (57.43%) rated their degree of vulnerability to CVC as “highly vulnerable”. A strong non-cause-effect relationship existed between vulnerability to CVC and hypothesized socio-economic, institutional and environmental explanatory variables (p

Small-scale farmers’ adaptation decision in the face of climate variability and change (CVC) depends largely on their ability to perceive the impacts of CVC as well as their degree of vulnerability to these impacts. This research looks at the factors that influence small-scale farmers’ adaptation decision faced with climate variability and change, with particular focus on Mbengwi Central Sub-Division, North-West Region of Cameroon. The study made use of household surveys to identify the impacts, determine vulnerability and assess the factors influencing small-scale farmers’ adaptation decision. Data obtained from household surveys was analyzed using descriptive statistics (bar charts, percentage indices) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney test, Chi-Square, and the Binomial Logistic (BNL) regression model). Data analysis was done on Microsoft Excel 2007 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0. Results showed that, following small-scale farmers’ perceptions, crop productivity decline was the main impact of CVC (96.7%) and poverty the principal cause of vulnerability to CVC (98.3%). Mann-Whitney test results revealed that there was a significant difference between farmers’ adaptation decision and six hypothesized continuous explanatory variables (age, household size, farm size, number of farms, annual family income, farm experience) (p

Vascular epiphyte biomass is poorly studied in Congo Basin forest. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol to estimate epiphyte biomass. Epiphytes were collected on 77 phorophytes of diamet...

This study was carried out in the classified forest of Djoli-Kera found in the South-Eastern part of Chad. It aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal dy-namics of land cover between 1972 and 2013 and to determine the drivers of vegetation degradation. The databases used were made up of 4 Landsat satellite images (1MSS of 1972, 5TM of 1984, 7ETM+ of 1990 and 2010) and a spot 6 image of 2013, supplemented by field studies. Satellite images were processed using ENVI and ArcGIS software. Interview was used to identify the activities carried out by the local population. In 1972, the classified forest consisted of four types of land cover, the most important of which was open forest (51%), followed by wooded savannah (26%), tree savannah (21%) and sparse vegetation consisting of farms and fallows (2%). Gradually open forest and tree savannah disappeared. In 2013, the main types of land cover were shrub savannah (40%), sparse vegetation (28%), wooded savannah (12%), bare soil (12%) and dwellings (8%). Livestock, agriculture, wood collection and bushfires are perceived by local population as main drivers of forest cover change. Awareness-raising, monitoring and regulation of access to resources must be pursued, but also managers of the classified forest must accompany the local populations in the planting of trees and the setting up of more efficient farming systems to reduce pressure on the forest’s resources.

The present study used abundance and habitat variables to design High Conservation Value Forests for wildlife protection. We considered great apes (Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes troglodytes) as model species, and we used nest surveys, dietary analysis and botanical inventories to evaluate whether the traditional methods that use abundance data alone were consistent with the survival of the species. We assumed that setting a local priority area for animal conservation can be made possible if at least one variable (abundance or habitat variables) is spatially clustered and that the final decision for a species may depend on the pattern of spatial association between abundance, nesting habitat and feeding habitat. We used Kernel Density Estimation to evaluate the spatial pattern of each biological variable. The results indicate that all three variables were spatially clustered for both gorillas and chimpanzees. The abundance variables of both animal species were spatially correlated to their preferred nesting habitat variables. But while the chimpanzee feeding habitat variable was spatially correlated to the abundance and nesting habitat variables, the same pattern was not observed for gorillas. We then proposed different methods to be considered to design local priority areas for the conservation of each great ape species. Alone, the abundance variable does not successfully represent the spatial distribution of major biological requirements for the survival of wildlife species; we, therefore, recommend the integration of the spatial distribution of their food resources to overcome the mismatch caused by the existence of a biological interaction between congeneric species.

Climate variability and change has continued to wreak havoc on the agricultural sector, with small-scale farmers being the most hard-hit. The limited adaptive capacity of small-scale farmers faced with the impacts of climate variability and change principally explains their high level of vulnerability. It is within this framework that this study sought to examine the specific resiliency choices of small-scale farmers faced with climate variability and change in Cameroon, and the plausible policy implications. Data was collected through a survey of 300 small-scale farmer household heads as well as climate data collected from meteorological stations. Data analysis was run on Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS 20, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed significant fluctuations in climate parameters in recent years. The main resiliency choices of small-scale farmers faced with climate variability and change were on-farm practices (23%), off-farm practices (19%), and agroforestry practices (28%); with 30% of the sampled farmers taking to the no resiliency option. A statistically significant (p 0.01; p 0.05; and p 0.10) causal and non-causal relationship was found to exist between independent variables (household size, age of household head, number of farms, farm size, household income, farm experience, gender, experience of extreme weather events, access to weather information, access to extension services, access to credit, distance to market, access to land, and membership in farming group) and small-scale farmers' practice of different resiliency options faced with climate variability and change. This shows that small-scale farmers' practice of different resiliency options faced with climate variability and change is determined by past experience of extreme weather/climate events as well as socio-economic and institutional factors. On the basis of these findings, it is recommended that policy makers factor in these determinants when taking actions geared towards enhancing small-scale farmers' resilience to climate variability and change.

Flood plains can make a significant contribution to food security due to their rich agricultural and aquaculture potentials but the misuse of pesticides in these ecosystems may seriously threaten their sustainability. We have assessed the risk of commonly used pesticides by rice and vegetable farmers on two major streams in the Ndop flood plain in Cameroon using the PRIMET model. Thirty pesticide formulations were identified containing 17 active ingredients belonging to fungicides (7), herbicides (3), and insecticides (7). Out of these, five posed acute and/or chronic risks to the streams. Chlorpyriphos-ethyl (ETR = 655), chlorothalonil (ETR = 250), and cypermethrin (ETR = 190) posed a definite acute risk to both streams. These pesticides also posed possible chronic risks with cypermethrin also posing a definite chronic risk (ETR = 1658) to fish in one of the streams. Mancozeb (ETR = 2.2) and λ-cyhalothrin (ETR = 2.8) posed a possible acute risk to both streams. It was interesting to note that most pesticides, including some of those that posed a risk, were applied at lower doses than their respective recommended doses. Differences in ETRs were also observed in the two streams with higher values occurring in the stream having a lower concentration of suspended solids. The higher velocity of the Ngwala-Mesaw stream did not affect the acute risk posed by pesticides. Pesticide toxicity was an important determinant in the risk posed and we recommend that appropriate mitigation measures be put in place to reduce the risk of these pesticides such as the implementation of an appropriate buffer zone between the edge of field and water body.

Ecotourism is trumpeted as a sustainable activity and tool in and around Protected Areas (PAs) capable of balancing conservation of biodiversity alongside the livelihood of the local population. In the Campo Ma'an National Park (CMNP), this strategy was projected in the overall goal of the second management plan which expired at the end of the year 2019. Unfortunately, there is a void in scholarly works to elucidate the development of ecotourism in the area so as to ensure its mutual functions. This study was thus carried out to evaluate the determinants of sustainable ecotourism development in and around the CMNP. Data were collected from 124 persons during household surveys, experts and key informant interviews. Focus group discussions and observations were done within the 9 sampled communities. Findings from AHP-SWOT analysis revealed that, rich biodiversity, poorly developed roads, gorilla habituation and encroachment of poachers and hunters are the main strength, weakness, opportunity and threat respectively to ecotourism development. This study recommends the need to adopt and implement an ecotourism development and management plan through Public Private Partnership, Maintenance of roads and tracks in and around the Park and reforming the benefit sharing mechanism as inevitable strategies for sustainable ecotourism development in the area that could foster the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.

We studied the utilization pattern of wild plant species by elephants in relation to their nutritive values in order to provide insight into crop raiding events by the animal in the Waza region. Elephants were selective for food plants in the wilderness. Out of 45 recorded plant species, only 20 plant species were found to be utilized either fully or partially as evident by branch breaking, debarking, and uprooting. Among the plants consumed by the elephants, Acacia seyal was the most utilized (34.4% n = 212) followed by Piliostigma reticulatum (22.5% n = 128). The barks of Mitragymna innermis (11% n = 45) and Anogeisus leiocarpus (8% n = 41) were moderately utilized. All other recorded plants were utilized below 5%. Crude protein content in utilized plants varied from 2.97 (Lannea humilis) to 12.76% (Capparis tomentosa). NDF content ranged from 41.58 (Feretia.apodanthera) to 7.93% (Acacia ataxacantha). ADF content ranged from 32.26 (F. apodanthera) to 56.27% (Ziziphus mauritiana). In vitro digestibility also varied among the utilized plants. Elephants foraged more on nutritionally rich plants, and because of the generally poor nutritional value of natural fodder, the elephants in Waza National Park frequently break out to feed on nutritive richer agricultural crops. Key words: Elephants, nutritional value, utilized, plants.

Five African elephants (Loxodonta africana) were immobilized with etorphine in Waza National Park, Cameroon, for the purpose of deploying radio/satellite tracking collars. A portable ventilator constructed from two high-flow demand valves and the Y-piece of a large animal anesthesia circuit was used to provide intermittent positive-pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen. Oxygenation status improved dramatically in all five elephants. In one hypoxemic elephant, arterial PaO2 increased from 40 to 366 mm Hg. The results of this study demonstrate that both oxygenation and ventilation can be readily controlled in etorphine-immobilized elephants even under remote field conditions.

Knowledge of conflicts between people and protected areas is required for the design of sustainable conservation strategies for the management of most protected areas. This study identifies the causes of conflicts between local people and the Benoue Wildlife Conservation Area (BWCA), which includes the Benoue National Park, in northern Cameroon. Informal interviews and questionnaires were administered to 114 households in three communities, and to 17 Park staff and seven professional hunting guides. Crop damage affected 86% of the surveyed households, with 31% of crop income lost on average, and with the damage varying significantly between communities. Elephants, baboons, patas monkeys, warthogs and green parrots accounted for 97% of crop damage, with the staple foods maize and millet being most affected. Of the respondents, 28% experienced livestock depredation, with 18% of livestock income lost on average. The civet cat was the main predator. The involvement of local people in illegal activities, their lack of access to natural resources, and damage by wildlife were identified as principal causes of conflicts. Local people, park staff and professional hunting guides had diverse and differing perceptions about the causes of the conflicts, and made various suggestions for reduction of wildlife damage including animal scaring and controlled shooting. We conclude that, under current wildlife policy, conflict between people and BWCA is difficult to resolve. To reduce conflicts and promote sustainable conservation, we suggest co-management of wildlife involving all stakeholders, establishment of crop damage control teams, and promotion of tangible benefits to local people. There may be a requirement for site-specificity inmanagement strategies.

Correction: The previously published version of the article had additional authors, including J.P. BELINGA, G. ETOGA, Expedit Bernard FOUDA and René MEIGARI. These names have been removed, for they did not really contribute to this work. L’écotourisme, alternative d’impulsion du développement et de financement durable, est une solution viable pour faire face à l’insuffisance de moyens financiers rencontrés par les gestionnaires de parcs nationaux. C’est ainsi que la présente étude s’est donnée pour objectif de savoir si les clairières forestières de Pondo situées dans la partie Sud du Parc National de Boumba-Bek possèdent un potentiel faunique susceptible d’être valorisé. Les méthodes du « scan sampling » et les « recces » ont été utilisées. Il ressort de l’analyse des données qu’un total de 16 espèces, représentées par plusieurs espèces emblématiques, entre autres, Loxodonta africana cyclotis, Gorilla gorilla, Panthera pardus. Les sites sont fréquemment visités en matinée (20,1%). Loxodonta africana cyclotis a l’abondance relative la plus élevée avec 0,699 indice au kilomètre. Un total de 68 signes d’activités anthropiques a été recensé pour un taux d’IKA moyen de 0,15 indice au km avec un coefficient de détermination R2 = 0,7674. Le coefficient de corrélation de Spearman r = -0,8760 a été obtenu à travers l’équation y = -44,144 x + 316,72. Il ressort de cette étude que les clairières forestières de Pondo sont régulièrement fréquentées et peuvent faire l’objet d’une valorisation écotouristique. Mots clés: Grands et moyens mammifères, clairières forestières, suivi écologique, parc national. English Title: Feasibility study of the implementation eco-tourist site in Boumba-Bek national park: case of Pondo forest clearings Ecotourism, an alternative to development stimulus and sustainable financing is a viable solution to address the financial constraints by national park managers. The objective of this study is to determine whether Pondo forest clearings in the southern part of Boumba-Bek national park have wildlife potential that can be harnessed for eco-tourism purposes. The “scan sampling” and “recces” methods were used. Analysis of the data shows that a total of 16 species represented by several emblematic species including Loxodonta africana cyclotis, Gorilla gorilla, Panthera pardus. Sites were frequently visited in the morning (20, 1%) and Loxodonta africana cyclotis has the highest relative abundance with 0,699 index per kilometer. A total of 68 signs of anthropogenic activity were identified for an average IKA rate of 0, 15 index per kilometer with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0, 7674. The correlation coefficient of Spearman r = -0, 8760 was obtained from equation y = -44,144 x + 316, 72. This study shows that Pondo forest clearings are regularly used and can be used for ecotourism purposes.Keywords: Large and medium mammals, forest clearings, ecological monitoring, national park.