Full Length Research Paper

Logging activities in mangrove forests: A case study of Douala Cameroon

Ndongo Din¹* Peter Saenger², Priso Richard Jules¹, Dibong Didier Siegfried¹ and François Basco3

1The University of Douala, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, P.O. Box 8948 Douala Cameroon.

2School of Resources Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157 Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.

3 Centre de télédétection CESBIO – LADYBIO, CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier,  B.PI. 2801 - 31401 Toulouse, cedex, France.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ndongodin@yahoo.com . Tel. (237) 99 83 37 63. Fax (237) 33 40 75 69.

Accepted  24 January, 2008

The Cameroon mangroves are exploited by local communities through fishing, hunting, and especially logging for fuel-wood and charcoal. The changing demographic patterns in the region has increased the need of citizens in the urban centres, which in turn, has accelerated the pressure on the neighbouring forests. The objective of these studies was to assess the impact of local communities on the mangroves’ development. Through an eight point semi-structured questionnaire, 120 mangrove loggers were interviewed in the local markets in Douala. The survey data show that 61% of respondents are permanent workers and do not envisage quitting this mode of employment. The surface area destroyed annually approximates 1000 ha. Species of the genus Rhizophora are mostly exploited, with about 200,000 trees cut down per year. The declared revenues are about 400,000 Euros per year. Further analysis of information from different sources suggests that the total annual income could amount to four millions euros. These estimates show that the mangroves have a significant economic value and require significant improvement in modes of exploitation to include strategies for sustainable management.

Key words: Anthropogenic impact, deforestation, Douala-Cameroon, economic value, loggers, mangroves, Rhizophora.