home icon user icon
Welcome to International Network for Natural Sciences | INNS Pub.
Home My Account
Submit Manuscript
double_slash
breadcumb_bg

Ethnobotanic and ecology of Borassus aethiopum formations in and around Mbam and Djerem national park, Cameroon

Paper Details

Research Paper 05/06/2025
Views (60) Download (2)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Ethnobotanic and ecology of Borassus aethiopum formations in and around Mbam and Djerem national park, Cameroon

Maïyanpa Pauline, Bobo Kadiri Serge, Basubi Muke Mathieu, Djonra Sengor Magloire, Aseaku Frederick, Kamga Yanick Borel, Fotso Bernard
J. Bio. Env. Sci.26( 6), 74-85, June 2025.
Certificate: JBES 2025 [Generate Certificate]
Key: B. aethiopumFloristic diversityMbam and Djerem national parkPopulationSustainable management

Abstract

Borassus aethiopum is a species prized for its socio-economic potential in Cameroon. However, its stands are deteriorating in both quantity and quality. This study aims to reconcile the conservation of the roan tree with the satisfaction of the needs of the populations of the Mbam and Djerem National Park. Interviews were conducted with 311 informants in eight localities around the park. Inventories were carried out on five 500 m sites, each with 25, 20×250 m plots. The results revealed that fruit remains under strong pressure, followed by sap, with an Index value linked to the plant organs used between 0.70 and 0.98. Food and construction uses dominate in the villages. A total of 1500 trees were inventoried, divided into 76 woody species belonging to 59 genera and 32 families. The most represented species were B. aethiopum (27.73%) and Daniellia oliveri (5.73%). The most abundant families were Arecaceae (433) and Fabaceae (175). Average diversity index values ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 for Simpson’s index, 2.5 bits for Shannon’s index and 0.75 to 0.95 for Pielou’s equitability. The horizontal and vertical structure shows a preponderance of shrubs and a low number of large trees, indicating vigorous regeneration. This work provides a brief insight into the use and ecological potential of B. aethiopum. It could be a tool for sustainable management, which despite its presence in the PNMD area, is suffering from extinction.

Cover PDF

Agyarko K, Samuel KJ, Russel B, Menkah T, Antuong IS. 2014. Views of preventing B. aethiopum from extinction among four communities in Ghana. Journal of Natural Sciences Research 4(2), 2224–3186.

Avana-Tientcheu ML, Solefack MCM, Kamga YB, Nguetsop VF. 2018. Vulnerability assessment of Gnidia glauca (Thymelaeaceae) exploitation, traditional uses and domestication potential in the community forest of Kilum-Ijim, North Western Cameroon. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment 10(8), 182–191.

Dijk JFW, Wiersum KF. 1999. NTFP resource management as an option for multiple-use forest management in South Cameroon. In: Ros-Tonen MAF (ed). NTFP research in the Tropenbos Programme: results and perspectives, 115–122.

Dupuy JM, Chazdon RL. 2006. Effects of vegetation cover on seedling and sapling dynamics in secondary tropical wet forests in Costa Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22, 65–76.

Fotso R, Fosso B, Mbenda GN. 2019. Évolution du couvert végétal du Parc National Mbam et Djerem et sa périphérie entre 2000–2018. Conférence Observation Spatiale des Forêts Tropicales (OSFACO): Des images satellites pour la gestion durable des forêts tropicales.

Gbesso F, Adjatin A, Dansi AA, Akoegninou A. 2016. Aphrodisiac properties of hypocotyls extracts of B. aethiopum Mart (Arecaceae) collected in Central of Benin Republic. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science 5(3), 802–814.

Gbesso F, Nassi KM, Gbesso GHF, Akoegninou A. 2017. Utilisation sociale de B. aethiopum Mart. et de ses habitats dans les communes de Savè et de Glazoué au Bénin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Science 11(4), 1512–1522.

Gbesso FK, Akoegninou A, Tente BAH. 2015. Ethnobotanique, écologie et conservation de B. aethiopum au Bénin : dans la zone soudano-guinéenne (Bénin). Presses Académiques Francophones, pp. 284.

Guedje MN, Nkongmeneck BA, Lejoly J. 2002. Composition floristique et structure des formations à Garcinia lucida dans la région de Bipindi, Akom II (Sud Cameroun). Acta Botanica Gallica 149(2), 157–178.

Ingram V, Ndoye O, Iponga DM, Tieguhong J, Nasi R. 2010. Les produits forestiers non ligneux: contribution aux économies nationales et stratégies pour une gestion durable. In: de Wasseige C, de Marcken P, Bayol N, Hiol Hiol F, Mayaux P, Desclée B, Nasi R, Billand A, Defourny P, Eba’a AR (eds). Les forêts du bassin du Congo – État des forêts en 2010. Office des publications de l’Union Européenne, Luxembourg, 276 p. https://doi.org/10.2788/48830.

Kamga YB, Legwegoh A, Riley L, Wagner J, Lékéufack M, Njukeng P. 2021. Food security in Africa’s secondary cities: The informal food sector in Dschang, Cameroon. Cape Town: African Food Security Urban Network.

Kamga YB, Nguetsop VF, Anoumaa M, Kanmegne G, Momo SMC, Ngueguim JR. 2019. Garcinia kola (Guttiferae) in tropical rain forests: Exploitation, income generation and traditional uses in the East and Central regions of Cameroon. Journal of Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Biological Sciences 7(1), 13–27.

Kamga YB, Nguetsop VF, Momo SMC, Riera B. 2018. Diversité floristique des ligneux et la structure des formations à Garcinia kola Heckel dans les régions du Centre et l’Est Cameroun. European Scientific Journal 14(21), 451. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n21p451

Kessler M, Kessler PJA, Gradstein SR, Bach K, Schmull M, Pitopang R. 2005. Tree diversity in primary forest and different land use systems in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversity and Conservation 14, 547–560.

Martínez-Meyer E. 2015. Climate change and biodiversity: Some considerations in forecasting shifts in species’ potential distributions. Global Biodiversity Information Facility 2, 42–55.

Momo SMC, Kamga YB, Tiokeng B, Nguetsop VF, Avana ML, Kemeuze V. 2017. Diversité floristique et variation altitudinale de la structure des formations à Gnidia glauca (Fresen) Gilg dans les forêts communautaires de Kilum-Ijim (Nord-Ouest Cameroun). European Scientific Journal 13(6), 21. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n6p17

Naing ZH, Nobuya M, Shigejiro Y. 2011. Tree species composition and diversity at different levels of disturbance in Popa Mountain Park, Myanmar. Biotropica 43(5), 597–603.

Ngueguim JR, Betti JL, DickaKwambe E, Momo SMC, Temgoua LF. 2017. Déforestation, pertes de biodiversité et de biomasse dans la zone portuaire en eau profonde de Kribi (Cameroun): Quelques mesures d’atténuation.

Ohin BM, Kifouli A, Sonagnon SK, Noumavo PA, Ogoua SM, Wabi NMC, Faïnou BML, Toukourou F, Baba-Moussa F. 2018. Knowledge, attitudes, and hygienic practices of boiled hypocotyls (Borassus aethiopum Mart) vended in the streets of Cotonou city and its outskirts, Benin. BioMed Research International 2018, 4825435. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4825435

Ouattara DN, Ekpe P, Bakayoko A, Stauffer FW. 2015. Ethnobotany and conservation of palms from Ghana. Palms 59(2), 85–103.

Ouinsavi C, Gbémavo C, Sokpon N. 2011. Ecological structure and fruit production of African fan palm (Borassus aethiopum) populations. American Journal of Plant Sciences 2(2), 733–743.

Oumarou Z, François T, Hama C, Traore Y, Aly Savadogo A. 2018. Modes of use of the palm B. aethiopum Mart. by the rural populations of eastern and central eastern regions from Burkina Faso. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7(12), 62–74. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.712.009

Parmentier I, Harrigan RJ, Buermann W, Mitchard ETA, Saatchi S, Malhi Y, Bongers F, Hawthorne WD, Leal ME, Lewis SL, Nusbaumer L, Sheil D, Sosef MSM, Affum-Baffoe K, Bakayoko A, Chuyong GB, Chatelain C, Comiskey JA, Dauby G, Doucet JL, Fauset S, Gautier L, Gillet JF, Kenfack D, Kouame FN, Kouassi EK, Kouka LA, Parren MPE, Peh KSH, Reitsma JM, Senterre B, Sonke B, Sunderland TCH, Swaine MD, Tchouto MGP, Thomas D, Van Valkenburg JLCH, Hardy OJ. 2011. Predicting alpha diversity of African rain forests: Models based on climate and satellite-derived data do not perform better than a purely spatial model. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02467.x

Salako KV, Azihou AF, Assogbadjo AE, Hou D, Kassa D, Gl RL. 2015. Elephant-induced damage drives spatial isolation of the dioecious palm Borassus aethiopum (Arecaceae) in the Pendjari National Park, Benin. African Journal of Ecology 4, 9–19.

Sarkodie AJ, Sylvia Squire A, Kretehy AI, Bekoe OE, Domozoro YFC, Kurukulasuriya AMJ, Adjei E, Edoh AD, Amponsah KI, Sakyiama BB, Nyarko KA. 2015. Borassus aethiopum, a potential medical source of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. Herbal Medicine 1, 1–7.

Sarr MA. 2008. Variabilité pluviométrique en Afrique de l’ouest: Dynamique des espaces végétaux à partir d’images satellites. Exemple du Bassin versant du Ferlo (Sénégal). Journée Climatologique – Nantes, 13–14 mars 2008, 57–76.

Senterre B. 2005. Recherches méthodologiques pour la typologie de la végétation et la phytogéographie des forêts denses d’Afrique tropicale. Thèse de Doctorat, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgique, 345 p.

Souare K, Amougou A, Biye EH, Fotso RC. 2012. Long-term ecological impacts of harvesting non-timber forest products on tree species diversity at the periphery of Mbam and Djerem National Park, Cameroon. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment 4(11), 290–302.

Souare K. 2015. Gestion intégrée des espèces ressources clés des produits forestiers non-ligneux végétaux au Cameroun: Cas de la périphérie du Parc national du Mbam et Djerem. Thèse en Botanique et Écologie. Université de Yaoundé I, 154 p.

Thiombiano A, Schmidt M, Kreft H, Guinko S. 2006. Influence du gradient climatique sur la distribution des espèces de Combretaceae au Burkina Faso (Afrique de l’Ouest). Candollea 61(1), 189–213.

Ukizintambara T, Lee W, Kate A, Thebaud C. 2007. Gallery forests versus bosquets: Conservation of natural fragments at Lopé National Park in central Gabon. African Journal of Ecology 45, 476–482.

Xiao-Tao L, Jian-Wei T. 2010. Structure and composition of the understory treelets in a non-dipterocarp forest of tropical Asia. Forest Ecology and Management 260, 565–572.

Zapfack L, Noiha NV, Kengne OC, Garcia CA. 2018. Diversité floristique et structurale de deux forêts communautaires sous exploitation au Cameroun: Cas de Kompia et Nkolenyeng.

Submit Manuscript