Analyzing the Contribution of Cameroon’s Council Forests to Climate Change Mitigation and Socioeconomic Development

Council forests were officially enacted in Cameroon in 1994 as part of the forestry law reform. The law provided rural councils with the legal right to create their own forests estate within the Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) of the State, following the preparation of a management plan approved by the forest administration. In this chapter, we analyze the socioeconomic and climate change mitigation potentials of these forests and propose possible options for improving their socioeconomic importance as well as their ability to mitigate climate change. Results indicate that Cameroon’s council forests provide socioeconomic opportunities to communities in which they are located including employment and revenue from the sale of timber and nontimber forest products emanating from these forests. Additionally, given their diversity in terms of the various forest types (e.g., humid dense evergreen forests, humid dense semideciduous forests, and gallery forests), these forests have enormous carbon stocks which can provide huge opportunities for international climate initiatives such as the REDD+ mechanism to be initiated within them as a potential for mitigating global climate change. The chapter identifies and discusses possible options for improving the socioeconomic and climate change mitigation potential of these forests. Progress on the options the chapter opines, will help in improving the contributions of these forests to socioeconomic development and climate change mitigation

Production of Anonidium mannii plants by vegetative propagation

Anonidium mannii is a local species, belonging to the family Annonaceae, whose fruit is appreciated by the population of the tropical rainforests such as Kisangani, is obtained until now by collecting it in the forest. In the face of increasing deforestation, its domestication should be encouraged for the safeguarding of its genetic heritage. This study focuses on its propagation by cuttings and layering. Marcotting was evaluated in stem positions (orthotropic and plagiotropic) while cuttings were tested with factors of leaf area, stem length, and auxin applications. The results showed that orthotropic marcots root better (36 % against 29 %), although there was no statistically significant differences. Individual trees showed significant variations (0 to 100 %). Leaf area and auxin applications (4 to 13 %) significantly affected rooting, unlike cuttings lengths (8 to 9 %). The best rooting rate (27 %) was obtained by the combination of 37.5 cm² leaf area x 7 cm stem length x auxin. A. mannii species could be propagated by cuttings and marcotting. Future research should focus on opportunities to improve the rate of rooting which remains low (< 50 %)

Production de plants d’Anonidium mannii (Oliver) Engler & Diels par la multiplication végétative

Anonidium mannii is a local species, belonging to the family Annonaceae, whose fruit is appreciated by the population of the tropical rainforests such as Kisangani, is obtained until now by collecting it in the forest. In the face of increasing deforestation, its domestication should be encouraged for the safeguarding of its genetic heritage. This study focuses on its propagation by cuttings and layering. Marcotting was evaluated in stem positions (orthotropic and plagiotropic) while cuttings were tested with factors of leaf area, stem length, and auxin applications. The results showed that orthotropic marcots root better (36 % against 29 %), although there was no statistically significant differences. Individual trees showed significant variations (0 to 100 %). Leaf area and auxin applications (4 to 13 %) significantly affected rooting, unlike cuttings lengths (8 to 9 %). The best rooting rate (27 %) was obtained by the combination of 37.5 cm² leaf area x 7 cm stem length x auxin. A. mannii species could be propagated by cuttings and marcotting. Future research should focus on opportunities to improve the rate of rooting which remains low (&lt; 50 %). Key words: Anonidium mannii, Cuttings, Layering, Orthotropic, Plagiotropic, Rooting, KisanganiAnonidium mannii est une Annonaceae, dont le fruit est convoité par la population des forêts tropicales humides dont Kisangani fait parti, s’obtient jusqu’à ce jour par ramassage dans la forêt. Suite à la déforestation croissante, sa domestication devrait être encouragée pour la sauvegarde de son patrimoine génétique. Cette étude s’intéresse à sa multiplication par bouturage et marcottage. Le marcottage a évalué les positions de la tige (orthotrope et plagiotrope) alors que le bouturage a testé les facteurs surface foliaire, longueur de la tige et application d’auxines AIB. Les résultats ont montré que les marcottes orthotropes s’enracinent mieux (36 % contre 29 %), quoi que la différence n’est pas statistiquement significative. Ce sont les arbres pris individuellement qui ont présentés des variations importantes (0 à 100 %). Le facteur surface foliaire et application d’auxine AIB (4 à 13%) ont affecté significativement l’enracinement, contrairement aux longueurs de la tige des boutures (8 à 9 %). Le meilleur taux d’enracinement a été obtenu par la combinaison de 37,5 cm² de surface foliaire x 7 cm de longueur de tige x auxine AIB, soit 27 %. L’espèce A. mannii offre des atouts d’être multipliée par bouturage et par marcottage. Les recherches futures doivent se focaliser sur les possibilités d’améliorer le taux d’enracinement qui reste encore faible (&lt;50 %). Mots clés : Anonidium mannii, Bouturage, Marcottage, Orthotrope, Plagiotrope, Enracinement, Kisangan

Synergizing climate change mitigation and adaptation in Cameroon: An overview of multi-stakeholder efforts

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the policy environments, institutional arrangements and practical implementation of some initiatives undertaken by the Government of Cameroon, together with some relevant stakeholders, in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation at various levels in the country, which are prerequisites to promote synergistic ways of addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Design/methodology/approach - Using a qualitative approach to data collection, the paper draws upon information collected from relevant literature and interviews with 18 key country resource personnel. Findings - Results revealed that most reviewed policies/programs/strategies do not mention “climate change” explicitly but propose some activities which indirectly address it. Interaction is fair within the government ministries but weak between these ministries and other institutions. Inadequate financial resources are being opined as the most important challenge stakeholders are (and would continue) facing as a result of adopting integrated approaches to climate change. Other challenges include inadequate coordination, insufficient sensitization and capacity building, ineffective implementation, inadequate compliance, lack of proper transparency and inadequate public participation. To redress the aforementioned constraints and challenges, the paper concludes by outlining a number of recommendations for policy design. Originality/value - The following recommendations were made: create a national technical committee to oversee and provide scientific guidance to the government on synergistic approaches; promote private sector investment and sponsorship on synergistic approaches; create local awareness, etc. It is important to underscore that minimal studies have been conducted to analyze multi-stakeholder perspectives on synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in Cameroon. This study attempts to bridge this major gap

Understanding structural roots system of 5-year-old African plum tree (D. edulis) of seed and vegetative origins (G. Don) H. J. Lam

Root morphology of 5-year-old trees of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H. J. Lam of seed and two vegetative (cutting and marcot) origins were assessed in Cameroon. Roots of D. edulis trees of seed and vegetative origins were totally excavated and their root morphology described and quantified. Trees of seed origin were characterized by a tap root, reaching depths of about 1.2 m. Contrarily trees of cutting origin showed three strong vertical roots (d > 5 mm) with the longest reaching depths of 1.31 m. Trees of marcot origin were observed to have thick, relatively short prominent vertical roots, reaching depths of 1.15 m. At fixed lateral intra-row distances of 50 cm from tree bases, trees of seed and marcot origins recorded high root densities at soil depths of 0-20 cm; both differed significantly (p = 0.032) from those of trees of cutting origin. At soil depth of 60-100 cm, trees of cutting origin recorded the highest root density which however differ significantly (p = 0.016) from those of trees of both seed and marcot origins. D. edulis trees of seed origin had a tap root system, whereas trees of vegetative origin (cuttings and marcots) had developed prominent main adventitious roots growing vertically (sinker roots), into greater depths and a wider/deeper lateral root spread than seedlings. This could be a vital adaptation to the absence of a genetically determined tap roots in trees of vegetative origins so as not to compromise the acquisition of soil-based resources (water and dissolved ions) and anchorage