Papers by Barnabas Neba Nfornkah
Acta Botanica Brasilica
Forest understorey contains remarkable plant diversity, contributing to the heterogeneous environ... more Forest understorey contains remarkable plant diversity, contributing to the heterogeneous environments for other biotic gatherings and soil supplement aggregations. Nonetheless, the biomass of the understorey vegetation is neglected because of the lack of appropriate allometric equations without which there are uncertainties in biomass estimation. This study was aimed at developing multispecies allometric equations that will be used to estimate the aboveground biomass of different compartments (trunk, crown, and leaves) of understorey trees in the semideciduous rainforest of Cameroon. Understorey tree diameter (1.0-10.0 cm), height, and crown diameter were measured on 1023 trees as biomass predictors. The results showed that the fit of the model improves with more predictive variables, four of which were considered in all studied compartments (trunk, crown, and leaves). Existing specific and pantropic allometries based on diameter tend to overestimate the aboveground biomass of understorey trees when compared to the allometry developed in this study. This study highlighted the importance of a specific aboveground biomass allometric equation for understorey trees. Furthermore, the multispecies allometric equation developed for understorey trees complements those recently developed for overstorey trees, thereby contributing to the total aboveground woody biomass estimation in semi-deciduous forest in the Congo Basin.
Journal of Sustainable Forestry, Nov 30, 2022
Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes, 2023
Journal of Sustainable Forestry
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Studies on bamboo resources are limited in Congo Basin. This study assessed species diversity, di... more Studies on bamboo resources are limited in Congo Basin. This study assessed species diversity, distribution, characterisation and socioeconomic importance of bamboo to livelihood in Menuoa, Cameroon. Ninety questionnaires, one focus group discussion per village, observation and interviews were administered in 9 villages. Yushania alpina (K. Schum.) W.C.Lin, Phyllostachys aurea Carrière ex Rivière & C. Rivière, Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex. J.C.Wendl., Bambusa vulgaris var. vittata, Bambusa species Longinternode, Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro, Dendrocalamus asper (Schult. & Schult.f) Backer ex K.Heyne and Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees were identified. P. aurea dominated cultivated lands and settlement areas covered the greatest land surface of 2137 m 2 with an altitudinal range (1200-1400 m). Internodes vary (21.8-40 cm) per culm and length (9.8-34.5 cm). The number, length of internodes, height, diameter and number of culms varied significantly across Menoua (P<0.005). The culm (56%) was the greatest used parts. Bamboos had several uses such as aesthetics, soil erosion and landslide control, and landscape restoration. Municipalities are proper to lead bamboo resource management and conservation.
Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes, 2023
Environmental and Earth Sciences Research Journal, 2019
Protected resources continue to suffer illegal exploitation due to inadequate alternative livelih... more Protected resources continue to suffer illegal exploitation due to inadequate alternative livelihood options to the local populations. This study evaluated bush mango current situation in Korup National Park Communities (KNPCs). Five villages were selected based on high productivity. Focused group discussion was done in each village to identify stakeholders in the bush mango sector. Ninety-four household questionnaires administered to collectors. All collectors exploited rainy season bush mango; 36 (38%) collectors collected dry season bush mango in farms, 86% had cultivated dry season bush mango and 54% rainy season bush mango. Collectors, village traditional councils (VTCs), Cooperative and ordinary buyers constituted primary stakeholder. Households kernel's quantities produced varied (34-42 contents) and sold at US $ 42.4/content. KNPCs produced 1,658,880 kg kernels and sold for $ 3,907,584 / harvest season. Salient constraints were: long distances trekked to sites, ant bites, processing accidents, inadequate drying/storage facilities, poor roads and inadequate market information. Improved seedlings with good characteristics (rapid growth rate, large kernels sizes; self-cracking seed shells); fruit/ seed cracking machine; drying ovens; improved roads; and telecommunication networks for market intelligent communication were solicited. Both bush mangoes enhanced livelihoods in KNP and its cultivation will increase sustainable livelihoods source and reduce pressures on protected resources.
Current Research in Environmental Sustainability
Open Journal of Forestry, 2022
Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 2022
Open Journal of Forestry, 2022
Dwindling supplies of bamboo resources and the increase in the demand for bamboo have led to the ... more Dwindling supplies of bamboo resources and the increase in the demand for bamboo have led to the need for better propagation techniques. This is the only way to ensure the sustainability of the bamboo resource base and improve livelihoods. Thus, this study was carried out to examine the different growth parameters of culm cuttings of Bambusa vulgaris in propagation beds with a substrate consisting of dark soil, manure (compost) and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1. Data on different growth parameters was collected on a daily basis over a three week period and analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that the different growth parameters (diameter, height, leaves and sheaths) of culm cuttings of B. vulgaris evolved in like manner in three propagation beds. Descriptive statistics for growth parameters of culm cuttings of B. vulgaris showed little or no differences across three shelter/propagation beds (shelter bed 1, shelter bed 2 and shelter bed 3) with 1.4675 ± 1.6172 cm, 93 ± 112 cm, 22 ± 30 leaves, and 4 ± 6 sheaths being the mean diameter, height, number of leaves and number of sheaths for all three propagation beds, respectively. ANOVA test showed no statistically significant variation (p > 0.05) between growth parameters of culm cuttings of B. vulgaris across the three propagation beds, implying that the different growth parameters were relatively similar.
Journal of ecology and the natural environment, 2020
Bamboo resource assessment has witnessed great interest in the world with very little attention i... more Bamboo resource assessment has witnessed great interest in the world with very little attention in the Congo Basin forests. This study was initiated to assess bamboo species distribution in Cameroon with respect to Agroecological Zones (AEZ), using remote sensing. Forty-eight sheets of Landsat 8/Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) instruments’ images were mosaiced with the Envi 5.3 software. The bamboo index (BI) was calculated and used to identify wild bamboo-growing regions in Cameroon. Maps of bamboo growing regions helped in ground truthing. GPS coordinates were used to validate the bamboo presence with an accuracy of 78%. The result showed that bamboo spatial area statistics was 794.60, 451 308.36, 241 295.87, 302 989.41 and 219 094.67 ha in Sudano-Sahel, Guinea Savannah, Western Highlands, Monomodal rainfall forests and Bimodal rainfall forest, respectively with a total of 1 215 482.91 ha. Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C.Wendl.; Oxytenanthera ...
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2020
Bamboo is of ecological and socio-economic importance in the world. However, knowledge on its pot... more Bamboo is of ecological and socio-economic importance in the world. However, knowledge on its potential in climate change mitigation remains superficial in Cameroon. The present study identified bamboo diversity and estimated carbon stocks of the dominant species in Cameroon. Ground truth method and local informants were used for a bamboo species survey in five Agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Twenty-two circular plots of 100 m² each were utilized for biomass and density data collection in AEZ 2, AEZ 3 and AEZ 4. Destructive method was used to collect 5% of culms per plot sampled for bamboo biomass estimation. Culm density and carbon stocks for each bamboo species were extrapolated to hectares. A total of 8 bamboo species were recorded in the inventory. Three dominant bamboo species were identified (Bambusa vulgaris, Oxytenanthera abyssinica and Phyllostachys aurea) in different AEZs. For the three dominant bamboo species, biomass of culm was greater (76-84%), than those of branches (1...
Environment and Climate-smart Food Production, 2021
Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 2021
Introduction: Today, bamboo is a resource frequently used by local people for their wellbeing and... more Introduction: Today, bamboo is a resource frequently used by local people for their wellbeing and rural development in poor localities. Aims: This study aimed at identifying the ecosystem services offered by bamboo to the local population for their wellbeing. Duration and Place of Study: The study was carried out in January to February 2021 in Western highlands Agro ecological zone of Cameroon; more precisely in areas with high bamboo density according to literature review. Methodology: Three hundred and ten (310) questionnaires were administered to persons involved in bamboo activities including a direct observation in the field. This was complemented with key informant interviews. Results: The results showed that bamboo is highly utilized for subsistence purposes in many households in the Western Highlands of Cameroon, with at least 97 bamboo uses and products identified. These uses/products were grouped into 11 sectors/domains making use of bamboo. Agriculture, silviculture, hand...
Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism, 2020
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Papers by Barnabas Neba Nfornkah