Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon
Abstract Background Understanding the variation in distribution and abundance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) species is a crucial step in achieving their conservation and sustainable use. At the northern periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park in Southeast Cameroon, little is known about whi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-019-0219-y |
| _version_ | 1819127756540084224 |
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| author | T. Marlène Ngansop Elvire H. Biye F. Evariste Fongnzossie Preasious F. Forbi D. Cédric Chimi |
| author_facet | T. Marlène Ngansop Elvire H. Biye F. Evariste Fongnzossie Preasious F. Forbi D. Cédric Chimi |
| author_sort | T. Marlène Ngansop |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Understanding the variation in distribution and abundance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) species is a crucial step in achieving their conservation and sustainable use. At the northern periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park in Southeast Cameroon, little is known about which habitat type contain the highest abundance of NTFP species. In this study, we assessed habitat diversity and variation in the abundance of eight priority NTFP species comprising: Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Baillonella toxisperma, Irvingia gabonensis, Panda oleosa, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Scorodophloeus zenkeri and Tetrapleura tetraptera. The inventory was done along 16 linear transects of 5000 m × 20 m, and all the individuals, from juveniles (DBH < 5 cm) to mature trees (DBH > 5 cm) of the eight NTFPs were recorded. Habitat types were characterized along transects following basic forest classification system used in ecology and then measured. Results In total, 13 different habitat types were identified with young secondary forests and periodically flooded forests representing 32.70% and 26.31% respectively. The least represented habitat was young fallows with Chromolaena odorata (0.08%). Seven NTFPs (A. lepidophyllus, B. toxisperma, I. gabonensis, P. oleosa, P. macrophylla, R. heudelotii and T. tetraptera) were predominantly represented in young secondary forests whereas S. zenkeri was more abundant in young Marantaceae secondary forests. The different types of young secondary forests identified seem to be favourable for the growth of the eight NTFPs. Conclusions This study demonstrated that habitat fragmentation driven by human activities such as industrial logging and shifting cultivation destroy the forest ecosystems and has a strong influence on the sustainability of the major NTFPs in the locality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:16:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e82f81a1b2434c79bcf76709a5d5e846 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6785 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:16:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e82f81a1b2434c79bcf76709a5d5e8462022-12-21T18:32:52ZengBMCBMC Ecology1472-67852019-01-0119111010.1186/s12898-019-0219-yUsing transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east CameroonT. Marlène Ngansop0Elvire H. Biye1F. Evariste Fongnzossie2Preasious F. Forbi3D. Cédric Chimi4Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé IDepartment of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé IHigher Teacher’s Training School for Technical Education (ENSET), University of DoualaDepartment of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé IInstitute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD)Abstract Background Understanding the variation in distribution and abundance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) species is a crucial step in achieving their conservation and sustainable use. At the northern periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park in Southeast Cameroon, little is known about which habitat type contain the highest abundance of NTFP species. In this study, we assessed habitat diversity and variation in the abundance of eight priority NTFP species comprising: Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Baillonella toxisperma, Irvingia gabonensis, Panda oleosa, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Scorodophloeus zenkeri and Tetrapleura tetraptera. The inventory was done along 16 linear transects of 5000 m × 20 m, and all the individuals, from juveniles (DBH < 5 cm) to mature trees (DBH > 5 cm) of the eight NTFPs were recorded. Habitat types were characterized along transects following basic forest classification system used in ecology and then measured. Results In total, 13 different habitat types were identified with young secondary forests and periodically flooded forests representing 32.70% and 26.31% respectively. The least represented habitat was young fallows with Chromolaena odorata (0.08%). Seven NTFPs (A. lepidophyllus, B. toxisperma, I. gabonensis, P. oleosa, P. macrophylla, R. heudelotii and T. tetraptera) were predominantly represented in young secondary forests whereas S. zenkeri was more abundant in young Marantaceae secondary forests. The different types of young secondary forests identified seem to be favourable for the growth of the eight NTFPs. Conclusions This study demonstrated that habitat fragmentation driven by human activities such as industrial logging and shifting cultivation destroy the forest ecosystems and has a strong influence on the sustainability of the major NTFPs in the locality.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-019-0219-yForest resourcesNTFPsExploitationSustainabilityHuman activities |
| spellingShingle | T. Marlène Ngansop Elvire H. Biye F. Evariste Fongnzossie Preasious F. Forbi D. Cédric Chimi Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon BMC Ecology Forest resources NTFPs Exploitation Sustainability Human activities |
| title | Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon |
| title_full | Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon |
| title_short | Using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non-timber forest products across habitat types near Boumba-Bek National Park, South-east Cameroon |
| title_sort | using transect sampling to determine the distribution of some key non timber forest products across habitat types near boumba bek national park south east cameroon |
| topic | Forest resources NTFPs Exploitation Sustainability Human activities |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-019-0219-y |
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