Title
Use of wild trees and shrubs as fodder and traditional veterinary medicine in Cameroon: ecological impacts and conservation
Author(s)
Konsala, S.;Bernard-Aloys, N.;Gilbert, T.;Roger-Corneille, F.;Bernard, F.;Elvire-Hortense, B.;Tchobsala,
Published
2013
Publisher
International Journal of Forest, Soil and Erosion
Abstract
A study was carried out at the northern periphery of the Mbam and Djerem National Park in Cameroon in order to value the potential of woody species used as fodder and traditional veterinary medicine by agro-pastoralists, and to assess the effects of improper exploitation on the victim plants. Interviews, the monitoring of ruminant animals and macroscopic observations of their faeces were made up in order to appreciate the palatable species. In total, 25 species distributed within 15 families were inventoried. 15 species were essentially used as fodder, 6 species were used to treat animal diseases and 4 species were used both as fodder and traditional veterinary medicines. The collection systems of the products consist of a simple gathering of fruits on the ground, harvesting directly the fruits, pruning branches and a complete felling of the plant.The systems that consist of collecting products by complete barking, total destruction of the root system, pruning or systematic felling of the plant have real ecological impacts on the survival victim plants, and then favour the reduction of the density of the resources. It was found that the damages caused on plants and the palatability are positively correlated (Pearson, r = 0.82; p = 0.05). It is urgent to elaborate strategies of exploitation which observe the conservation of the phytogenetic resources.

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PUB14128