Ecology and Natural Resource Development in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Issues in Natural Resource Management: Issues in Natural Resource Management

Chapter Four. Threats to the Ecological Stability of the Compound Farms in The Bamileke Plateau, Cameroon

Chapter Four Threats to the Ecological Stability of the Compound Farms in The Bamileke Plateau, Cameroon Summary In its agrarian civilization, humankind developed site-specific farming systems that were at equilibrium with local culture, socioeconomic circumstances, and ecology. Production was oriented mainly to farm family subsistence. Due to rapid demographic growth, access to markets and the influence of foreign values these once sustainable agroecosystems are foundering. The paper investigates the structure, composition, and interactions of the compound farm system or home garden with local culture and ecology using a combination of field observations, ethnobotanical surveys, informal interviews and secondary data. It identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the system, the main threats to its sustainability and concludes that the compound farm is a gene bank for potentially useful but endangered plant species. The concept of the compound farm system as multipurpose gene banks requiring little inputs but enjoying protection by farmers who derive benefits from the system, may be the only way to minimize the current genetic erosion occurring in tropical montane forest ecoregions. The paper therefore recommends that agroforestry research programmes must emphasize the production of seedlings of these multipurpose species in the short-term. In the long-term, exploitation of variations in phenology both within and between species could result in longer term or all year round availability of desired vegetables, fruits, and other useful organs. There is need to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the compound farm system as a possible niche for the preservation of useful plant species. Introduction A closer look at the situation of tropical agriculture reveals that change has taken some paths. Originally, agriculture depended on local natural resources, knowledge, skills and institutions. Diverse site-specific farming systems evolved out of a long process of trial 62 Ecology and Natural Resource Development in the Western Highlands of Cameroon and error in which balances were found between the human society and its resources base. In most cases, production was oriented mainly to the subsistence of the family and the community (Reijntjes, et al, 1995). Traditional farming systems continued to develop in a constant interaction with local culture and ecology. As conditions for farming changed, for example, because of demographic growth or influence of foreign values, the farming system was also changed (Kapelle et al, 2000). Many traditional farming systems were sustainable for centuries (TAC/CGIAR, 1988). Mountain cultures and ecosystems face three primary threats: Land scarcity fuelled by inequitable ownership patterns and control of public resources, intensive resource extraction, and mass tourism and recreation. However, these systems have had to cope with rapid changes during and since the colonial period: the introduction of foreign education and technology in agriculture and health care; increased population pressure; changes in social and political relations; and incorporation into an externally controlled international market system. The compound farms of the tropics need adjustments to these changes (Nair et al, 1986). The paper investigates the structure, composition and functions of the compound farm as a gene bank for potentially useful but endangered species, and identifies the scope for tapping and keeping alive this valuable indigenous knowledge about genetic resource management. The Study Area And Problem Background The Bamilike plateau is located in the West Cameroon Highlands which are an ample rainfall area in the Sudano-Guinean Savanna ecological zone. The highlands are horst – like mountains mostly with an altitude of 1500 metres above sea level. This is a region of plateaus of varying heights with lava accumulations forming the main mountains. Two main relief features are typical: • There are basalt plateaus formed by the flow of basalt in Dschang (Foukoue), Mbounda, Bandjoun and Bazou. The study focuses on this area. • Mount Bambouto which is a mountain block at the centre of these plateaux is greatly dissected by erosion and has an elevation of 2740m. There are many trachytic outcrops near the summit. The succession of volcanic stages seems to be ignimbrite-basalt-trachyte and phonolite (Tchoua, 1979). 63 Threats to the Ecological Stability of the Compound Farms in the Bamileke Plateau, Cameroon The soils are Ultosols derived from basalts and trachytes with varying degrees of weathering. Precisely, the soils are acidic, low in major nutrients and have high phosphorus requirements. Due to population pressure, food crop fields are found on steep slopes where erosion losses are phenomenal leading to a decline in soil fertility. Using purchased inputs to overcome the above degradation scenarios in the traditional farming...