The bush mango value chain in South West Cameroon: Governance, sustainability and emerging opportunities
Paper Details
The bush mango value chain in South West Cameroon: Governance, sustainability and emerging opportunities
Abstract
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) play critical roles in conservation, poverty reduction and local subsistence across the Congo Basin. Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu) represents one of Central Africa’s most commercially significant forest resources. This study examined the bush mango value chain in Meme and Manyu Divisions of Cameroon’s South West Region, analysing trade volumes, profit margins, livelihood contributions, governance arrangements and sustainability challenges. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 47 value chain actors across harvesting villages, collection points and markets in Kumba and Eyumojock between 2022 and 2024. Data were analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results showed that trade in bush mango continue to expand despite security challenges, with wholesalers dominating the chain while harvesters capture limited benefits. Women dominate harvesting (75%) and local retailing (70%) but are excluded from export activities. The governance landscape comprises a complex bricolage of statutory, customary, market and corruption elements. Ecological sustainability concerns include low tree densities (1.35 stems/ha), poor natural regeneration, collapse of seed dispersal mechanisms and climate-induced shifts in fruiting seasons. Emerging opportunities include growing international demand from nutraceutical and cosmetic markets. The study concludes that realising these opportunities requires strengthened governance, equitable benefit distribution and strategic investments in domestication.
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Louis Njie Ndumbe*, Agbor Mc Nasare, Baliki Winifred, 2026. The bush mango value chain in South West Cameroon: Governance, sustainability and emerging opportunities. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 28(5), 1-8.
Copyright © 2026 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.