Abstract

Tropical deforestation, which is progressing at an alarming rate, is responsible for a significant loss of both plant and animal biodiversity. In southern Cameroon, site of this project, the annual deforestation rate has been estimated at 1 335 km/yr and has resulted in the disappearance of 25.3% of pristine forest between 1973 and 1988. Slash and burn agriculture (SBA) has been identified as one of the primary causes of tropical deforestation. Under the combined pressure of increased demand for food by an ever increasing population, traditional farmers who are the main food producers, are caught in a vicious spiral. First fallow periods are reduced to meet the demand for food, this leads rapidly to a decline in soil fertility and reduced food production, which is tackled by opening up new land. The newly opened land is in turn rapidly degraded for lack of required nutrients input, and/or adequate fallow and the cycle repeats itself.

This system of shifting cultivation leads inevitably to the destruction of forest biodiversity, which if conserved could earn farmers a decent alternative livelihood. Researchers hypothesize that it is possible not only to protect such useful forest species through modified cutting and burning practices, but also to identify and rectify soil limiting nutrients that encourage such shifting slash and burn systems. Alternative land management practices will be tested with the full participation of farmers, and best-bet systems will be disseminated. Researchers will also undertake a plant and soil microfauna survey and system carbon assessment.

Recipient Institution(s)