Plantes médicinales utilisées par les populations Bassa de la région de Douala au Cameroun

Une enquête ethnobotanique portant sur un échantillon de 90 ménages a été conduite en juin 2010 dans trois villages de la région de Douala, au Cameroun, afin de recenser les plantes médicinales utilisées par lespopulations rurales. Elle montre que 48 espèces relevant de 44 genres et de 26 familles sont utilisées dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle. Les principales familles recensées sont les Fabaceae, les Euphorbiaceae et les Asteraceae, avec respectivement 6, 5 et 4 espèces. Les fragments ou organes végétatifs collectés provenaient des jardins de case, vergers, jachères, lisières forestières ou plantations. Les espèces collectées représentent près de 94% de la flore. Seulement 3 espèces (environ 6%) ont été échantillonnées en forêt. Les espèces exploitées renferment près de 42% d’herbacées et de 58% de ligneux. Les fragments ou organes les plus utilisés comprennent les feuilles, les fruits, les graines et les écorces

Evaluation of the contribution of NTFPs gathering: to rural people’s livelihoods around two timber concessions in Gabon

NTFP are often presented as bringing a major contribution to rural livelihoods in terms of food and cash, and this particularly for rural communities. Few data are available in Gabon to confirm this common assertion. An annual monitoring of 127 households was conducted in 14 villages around two timber concessions in the south-east and south-west regions of Gabon. Conventional socio‐economic survey tools such as focus group discussions, census and semi-structured interviews of households were used in gathering data during one year. Results reveal that rural people depend on various sources of livelihoods for food and income generation, but overall, the current contributions of vegetal NTFPs are insignificant compared to other activities. Odika (Irvingiagabonensis), atanga sauvage (Dacryodes buettneri), fungus (Termitomyces spp) and “nut” (Coula edulis) represent the main forest products that are commonly harvested by rural people, primarily for subsistence purposes while the surplus is sold. Although some efforts were made to promote the NTFP sector in the country, the results of this study suggest that: (1) the main components of the decree No.137/PR/MEFP of February 4, 2009, that prohibited the logging of five multiple use tree species over a period of 25 years should be reconsidered for revision; (2) the State authorities and partners should promote projects aiming at increasing the knowledge of the NTFP sector. These projects should contribute to the census of NTFP (for food, medicine and services), characterize their uses, the market chains of target products, and the development potential of NTFP. Such projects may help Gabon and other Congo Basin countries to fix norms/standards for a sustainable natural resource management and for enhancing their contribution to the national economy. This will be particularly relevant in the light of dwindling oil revenues and the need to diversify and promote other revenue sources in the country

Évaluation De L’aptitude De Pseudospondias Microcarpa (A. Rich.) Engl. Var. Microcarpa (Anacardiaceae) Au Marcottage Aérien Et Perspectives De Domestication Dans Le Sud-Est Du Gabon

La Multiplication Végétative Des Espèces Spontanées À Usages Multiples Reste Encore Limitée En Zone Tropicale Humide D’afrique Centrale. Cette Étude Évalue L’aptitude De Pseudospondias Microcarpa Au Marcottage Aérien Dans Les Conditions De Franceville Dans Le Sud-Est Du Gabon. L’objectif À Terme Est Sa Domestication Et Son Intégration Dans Les Systèmes Agroforestiers Traditionnels. Sur 102 Branches Orthotropes, 4 Substrats (Sphaigne Du Chili, Mousse, Inflorescence Mâle Du Palmier À Huile, Sciure De Bois) Ont Été Testés. L’induction Racinaire, Intervenant Au Bout De 30 Jours, S’étend Au-Delà De 120 Jours, Et Ne Dépend Pas Du Type De Substrat. Le Volume Racinaire Par Contre Augmente Avec La Texture Du Substrat Utilisé. Les Taux D’enracinement (78,43 ± 7,98%) Et De Réussite (97,5 ± 3,42%) À 120 Jours Sont Très Prometteurs. Les Taux De Survie En Pépinière (55,56 ± 13,25%) Et En Champ (45,83 ± 19,93%) Restent Assez Variables. Néanmoins, Ces Résultats Indiquent Que Pseudospondias Microcarpa Var. Microcarpa Présente Une Bonne Aptitude Au Marcottage Aérien. Cette Observation Constitue Un Préalable À La Domestication De Cette Espèce. Les Deux Derniers Résultats Suggèrent Cependant De S’appesantir Sur La Recherche Des Conditions Optimales De Sevrage Et De Culture, Afin D’améliorer La Production Des Plants Par Marcottage Aérien De Pseudospondias Microcarpa. L’autre Résultat Majeur Est La Prise En Compte Des Substrats Locaux Dans La Vulgarisation De Cette Technique À Faible Coût. Vegetative propagation of spontaneous multipurpose species is still limited in tropical rainforest areas of Central Africa. This study evaluates the aptitude of Pseudospondias microcarpa for aerial marcottage under the conditions of Franceville in south-eastern Gabon. The ultimate objective is its domestication and its integration into traditional agroforestry systems. A total of 102 orthotropic branches were tested on 4 different substrates: Chilean sphagnum moss, moss, male inflorescence of oil palm, and sawdust. The root induction, occurring after 30 days, extends beyond 120 days and does not depend on the substrate type. Rooting (78.43 ± 7.98%) and success rates (97.5 ± 3.42%) at 120 days were very promising. The nursery (55.56 ± 13.25%) and field (45.83 ± 19.93%) survival rates remain quite variable. However, these results indicate that Pseudospondias microcarpa var. microcarpa has a good ability to aerial marcottage. This observation constitutes a prerequisite for the domestication of this species. The latter two results suggest, however, to further investigates the optimum conditions of weaning and cultivation. This is done in order to improve Pseudospondias microcarpa plant production through aerial marcottage. The other major result has to do with taking into account local substrates in popularizing this low-cost technique

Beyond timber: balancing demands for tree resources between concessionaires and villagers

Extensive areas of the Congo Basin forest are allocated to timber concessionaires. These forests also harbour and support village populations, including indigenous Baka people, who depend on forest foods obtained directly from trees (fruits, oils and caterpillars). Most food-producing tree species are harvested by concessionaires for timber. We documented the availability and abundance of three food tree species around four villages and in two neighboring timber concessions in Cameroon. Data was used to determine the importance of timber concessions as sources of food for local people to provide a foundation for governance arrangements that consider local needs for foods from timber trees. Discussions with concessionaires revealed that some of them have voluntarily refrained from extracting timber species of interest to villagers for their nontimber products. This is either to avoid conflict with villagers, or because regulations have been promulgated to safeguard these resources. The interplay between internal village dynamics, regulations and their implementation by forest guards, and the actions of timber concessions create a complex arena for addressing rights to forest resources. This paper provides information on the accessibility and availability of multiple use timber species as a foundation for negotiations and governance arrangements between concessionaires and local communities

Livelihoods, economic contribution and sustainability of the bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) value chain from three provinces of Gabon

In the Congo Basin, the economic, social and environmental value of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), such as bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is widely acknowledged. However, knowledge of the volumes traded, extent and distribution of revenues along the value chain is limited while little is known about the chain's sustainability. The survey of the value chain was followed by field observations and semi structured interviews with 174 stakeholders in Estuaire, Nyanga and Ngounié provinces of Gabon. Women dominate in the bush mango value chain. Most bush mango sold in urban and rural markets came from neighbouring countries. There is skewed distribution of revenues, with traders and processors earning higher incomes than harvesters. Deforestation, lack of harvesting standards and poor management of resources, according to the stakeholders, represent the main factors threatening the sustainability of the chain. Long-term socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the chain calls for raising the political visibility of the chain, training and collective action

Mitigating coking during methylcyclohexane transformation on HZSM-5 zeolites with additional porosity

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