Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

130 A case study of garcinia kola nut production-to-consumption system

CONCLUSIONS

This chapter has elucidated the importance of bitter kola as one of the many

NTFPs that are of socio-economic importance in the rainforest of south-west

Nigeria. Its commercialisation both in the domestic and national markets would

result in raising the standard of living of those involved in its trading activities,

in both the rural and urban centres. It is clear that through the volume of

production each season the bitter kola trade is more profitable than other

NTFPs such as wonder cola (Bulchhoizia coriacea), sponge (Acanthus montanus)

and cola nuts (Cola nitida/acuminata) in the J4 area. In part because of its

high amenability to storage, both fresh and dried, traders’ market margins

were also found to be higher than those of other NTFPs.

The ongoing increase in commercial value of bitter kola has made the

cultivation of the tree more important—and of greater interest—to the isolated

villagers of the J4 area of Omo Forest Reserve as well as other bitter kola

production areas in Nigeria. The development of domestication and cultivation

strategies for improving Garcinia kola trees should be possible, as has been

undertaken with many other NTFPs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank the Centre for International Forestry Research and all members

of staff, both in Cameroon and Bogor, for their particular interest in the study

of NTFPs in general and for sponsoring this case study. I am grateful for the

opportunity given to me by the Centre for Environment, Renewable Natural

Resources, Management, Research and Development to carry out the study.

Special thanks to Dr. L. A. Adebisi and Dr. (Mrs.) A. O. Adu of University of

Ibadan, Nigeria, and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, respectively, for

their willingness and prompt action in reviewing earlier versions of this paper.

ENDNOTES

1. CENRAD, P. M. B. 5052, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

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