Diversity of Local Fruit Trees and Their Contribution in Sustaining the Rural Livelihood in the Northern Cameroon

The northern Cameroon ecosystems harbor a diversity of useful tree species producing non wood forest products (NWFPs). Indigenous fruit trees are very important for the nutritional quality of rural population and contribute to their income. A better knowledge of the potential utilization of these species and the constraints attached to the transformation of their products and commercialization would favor their promotion. Methodological approach included ethno-nutritional and market surveys, and chemical analysis. Results showed that a total of 55 fruit tree species were valued by the farmers. The top sixteen are represented by Adansonia digitata L., Aframomum latifolium (Afz.) K. Schum, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Borassus aethiopum Mart, Deatrium microcarpum Guill. et Perr., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst ex.A.Rich. Haematostaphis barteri Hook F., Hyphaena thebaica (L.)Mart, Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) R.Br.ex.G.Don, Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich) Hochst, Syzygium guineense var. macrocarpum (Engl.) F. White, Ximenia americana L., Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn.f, , Vitex doniana Sweet, Tamarindus indica L, and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. They are the most preferred and the most commercialized. The chemical composition of these fruits showed that S. birrea has the highest vitamin C value (13.60 mg/100g) and S. guineense has the highest amount of total soluble sugars (93.98 % of DW). Oil contents are low for all the fruits evaluated except C. edulis with 21.04 % of lipid. Iron value varies from 0.48 to 48.07 mg/100g respectively for P. guajava and A. senegalensis. The richest source of calcium and magnesium is A. senegalensis (558.74 and 18.20 μg/g respectively). The nutritive potential of the fruit tree species and their dietary applications are important. Species with high nutritious value can be recommended for a domestication program, which is important to diversify agricultural production and to reduce poverty in Northern Cameroon.Key words: Northern Cameroon, Fruits, Marketing, Chemical composition, Domestication

Sustainable management of a natural threatened resource: The case study of Vepris heterophylla (engl.) Letouzey (rutaceae) in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon

Useful trees are believed to be threatened. However most evidence about these concerns is anecdotal. The objectives of the study were to document uses of Vepris heterophylla (Engl.) Letouzey, management patterns, determine its population structure and assess the influence of mountain sides in the sudanosahelian zone of Cameroon. The study was carried out using ethnobotanical and quantitative ecological methods. The results showed that the species was found to be multipurpose and produced six different products and services. The most mentioned services were conservation of the foodstuffs and medicine. Community responses indicated that the species became rare and there were no strategies developed to preserve it. The quantitative inventory supported this community view: the species had a low density (28.8 individuals/ha) and a weak size class distribution with calculated least-squares regression slopes of a1=-0.435 (Sahelian section) and a2=-0.263 (Sudanian section). The opposition of the side had an influence on the population (÷2=33.15; df=9; P <0.001). The species appeared to be threatened by the overexploitation and poor attitude to its conservation. Respondents claimed that they were not interested in conserving it because they lacked propagation materials and skills. The sensitization and the domestication of the plant should be considered urgently.Keywords: Vepris heterophylla, Threatened species, Sustainable management, Sudano-sahelian zone, Opposition sides

Patterns of flowering in some indigenous tree species in the humid lowlands of Cameroon

No Abstract Available Ghana J. Sci, Vol.42 2002: 19-2

Regeneration Of Some Fuelwood Tree Species Of Humid Savanna Of Adamawa, Cameroon: Effects Of Season And Cutting Height

Six most widely used tree species of fuelwood (Daniellia oliveri, Entada africana, Hymenocardia acida, Lophira lanceolata, Piliostigma thonningii and Terminalia macroptera) were studied in three suburban localities of Ngaoundere (Bini, Borongo and Dang), for two seasons (rainy and dry seasons). Four cutting levels (0, 20, 35 and 50 cm from soil surface) and two cutting modes (horizontal and oblique) were achieved in each season in each locality and for each species. The experimental method was a split-plot with three replicates (localities). The main factors were fuelwood tree species and the under-factors were represented by the seasons, the cutting mode and the cutting height. The experimental unit was constituted by five trees. Data of shoot number, shoot height and diameter were recorded. Results showed that all species produced at least one shoot since the first month, excepted L. lanceolata in rainy season. The mean number of the shoots produced at the end of 3 months varied from four (L. lanceolata) to 11 (H. acida and E. africana). D. oliveri, L. lanceolata and P. thonningii significantly produced the greatest number of shoots in the dry season than in the rainy season. The other species had an opposite behaviour. The shoot number varied very significantly with the cutting height, but not with the cutting mode. The shoot growth in height and in diameter were not similar among species in any season, and the cutting height and the season did not influence the shoot growth of any species. The results would contribute to sustainable management of Adamawa savannas that are now under multiple anthropic pressures.Pour contribuer à la compréhension de la régénération des espèces énergiques des savanes de l\'Adamaoua, six essences (Daniellia oliveri, Entada africana, Hymenocardia acida, Lophira lanceolata, Piliostigma thonningii et Terminalia macroptera), les plus utilisées comme bois de chauffe ont été mises en étude en milieu naturel dans 3 localités périurbaines de la ville de Ngaoundéré (Bini, Borongo et Dang), pendant 2 saisons (saison des pluies et saison sèche). Quatre niveaux de coupe (0, 20, 35 et 50 cm du sol) et deux modes de coupe (horizontale et oblique) ont été réalisés à chaque saison, dans chaque localité et pour chaque espèce. La méthode expérimentale est un split-plot à 3 répétitions (localités). Les facteurs principaux sont des espèces et les sous-facteurs sont représentés par les saisons, les modes et la hauteur des coupes. L\'unité expérimentale est constituée par 5 plants. Les données portaient sur le nombre, la hauteur et le diamètre des rejets. Les résultats ont montré que toutes les espèces ont initié la formation d\'au moins un rejet dès le premier mois, exceptée L. lanceolata en saison des pluies. Le nombre moyen des rejets produits au bout de 3 mois varie de 4 (L. lanceolata) à 11 environ (H. acida et E. africana). On note une disparité saisonnière entre les espèces. D. oliveri, L. lanceolata et P. thonningii produisent significativement le plus grand nombre des rejets en saison sèche qu\'en saison des pluies. Les autres espèces présentent un comportement opposé. Le nombre de rejets varie très significativement avec la hauteur des coupes, mais non avec le mode des coupes. Les croissances en hauteur et en diamètre des rejets ne sont pas uniformes entre les espèces quelle que soit la saison. La hauteur des coupes et la saison n\'influencent pas les croissances des rejets chez toutes les espèces. Ces premiers résultats contribueront à la gestion durable des savanes de l\'Adamaoua, qui subissent actuellement des multiples pressions anthropique. Ghana Journal of Science Vol. 47 2007: pp. 45-5