The State of Non-Timber Forest Products Trade in Yokadouma, Southeast Cameroon, 2018-2022

Abstract

Trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has increased in southeast Cameroon in recent years. To identify which NTFP species have the most potential to contribute to local people's livelihoods, it is necessary to understand the demand for NTFPs. This paper describes the actual status of the NTFP trade in Yokadouma, a major town in southeast Cameroon, where more than 10 species of NTFPs are currently traded. These species may be classified into three groups: Group I includes species that are traded during most seasons and whose prices are relatively stable, such as Ricinodendron heudelotii, Aframomum citratum, Aframomum letestuanum, and Piper guineense. Group II includes species that are traded during a limited period at fluctuating prices, such as Irvingia gabonensis and Afrostyrax lepidophyllus. Six of the species in Groups I and II accounted for more than 90% of the total transactions that took place during the study period, and these have particularly strong potential for sales promotion in the region and may serve as the focal species for initiatives that promote an NTFP economy. In particular, Ricinodendron heudelotii will be the most important NTFP to stabilize cash income for local people. Group III includes minor species traded in years of bad harvest for Group II, such as Monodora myristica, Pentaclethra macrophylla, and Scorodophloeus zenkeri. While local communities rarely use these species, their commercial values stand to increase rapidly should the demands of exporters or external wholesalers increase. From a risk management perspective, it is important that local people handle multiple NTFPs rather than specializing in a single, particular NTFP species; this will help mitigate the influence of seasonal and annual fruiting fluctuations and of unexpected changes in consumption demand.