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Challenges to governing sustainable forest food: Irvingia spp. from southern Cameroon

Author

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  • Ingram, Verina
  • Ewane, Marcus
  • Ndumbe, Louis Njie
  • Awono, Abdon

Abstract

Across the Congo Basin, bush mango (Irvingia spp.) nuts have been harvested from forest landscapes for consumption, sold as a foodstuff and for medicine for centuries. Data on this trade however are sparse. A value chain approach was used to gather information on stakeholders in the chain from the harvesters in three major production areas in Cameroon to traders in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea, the socio-economic values, environmental sustainability and governance. Around 5190 people work in the complex chain in Cameroon with an estimated 4109tons harvested on average annually in the period 2007 to 2010. Bush mango incomes contribute on average to 31% of harvester's annual incomes and dependence increases for those further from the forest. Customary rules govern access to resources. Although regulations exist, most trade is illegal, with corruption and collective action governing access to markets. The majority of nuts harvested are sustainably collected. Although 51% of the harvest is sourced from the forest, trees are also managed on cultivated land. Forest degradation and deforestation threaten the species. Policy measures such as linking stakeholders, promoting cultivation, pragmatic regulation, and supporting processer groups may make trade in this forest food more sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingram, Verina & Ewane, Marcus & Ndumbe, Louis Njie & Awono, Abdon, 2017. "Challenges to governing sustainable forest food: Irvingia spp. from southern Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 29-37.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:84:y:2017:i:c:p:29-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2016.12.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Lindberg, Klara & Martvall, Amanda & Bastos Lima, Mairon G. & Franca, Caroline S.S., 2023. "Herbal medicine promotion for a restorative bioeconomy in tropical forests: A reality check on the Brazilian Amazon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Rasmussen, Laura Vang & Watkins, Cristy & Agrawal, Arun, 2017. "Forest contributions to livelihoods in changing agriculture-forest landscapes," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1-8.
    3. Henry N. N. Bulley & Oludunsin T. Arodudu & Esther A. Obonyo & Aniko Polo-Akpisso & Esther Shupel Ibrahim & Yazidhi Bamutaze, 2023. "Perspectives on Applications of Geospatial Technology and Landscape Ecology for Conservation Planning in the Global South," International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research (IJAGR), IGI Global, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Adam, Ismail Abdalla Abuelbashar & Adam, Yahia Omar & Olumeh, Dennis Etemesi & Mithöfer, Dagmar, 2024. "Livelihood strategies, baobab income and income inequality: Evidence from Kordofan and Blue Nile, Sudan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Roger R. B. Leakey & Marie-Louise Tientcheu Avana & Nyong Princely Awazi & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Prasad S. Hendre & Ann Degrande & Sithabile Hlahla & Leonard Manda, 2022. "The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-75, February.
    6. Ahammad, Ronju & Stacey, Natasha & Sunderland, Terry C.H., 2019. "Use and perceived importance of forest ecosystem services in rural livelihoods of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 87-98.
    7. Harbi, Jun & Erbaugh, James Thomas & Sidiq, Mohammad & Haasler, Berthold & Nurrochmat, Dodik Ridho, 2018. "Making a bridge between livelihoods and forest conservation: Lessons from non timber forest products' utilization in South Sumatera, Indonesia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1-10.
    8. Stryamets, Nataliya & Elbakidze, Marine & Chamberlain, James & Angelstam, Per, 2020. "Governance of non-wood forest products in Russia and Ukraine: Institutional rules, stakeholder arrangements, and decision-making processes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    9. Cooper, Matthew & Zvoleff, Alex & Gonzalez-Roglich, Mariano & Tusiime, Felly & Musumba, Mark & Noon, Monica & Alele, Peter & Nyiratuza, Madeleine, 2018. "Geographic factors predict wild food and nonfood NTFP collection by households across four African countries," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 38-53.

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