Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

42 ‘Chop, but no broke pot’: the case of Prunus Africana on Mount Cameroon

viability and high germination rates. Preliminary results of the study of vegetative

propagation of P. africana by cuttings showed that the rooting percentage was

greatly influenced by rooting medium, auxin content and the cutting leaf area

(Tchoundjeu et al. 2002).

In terms of industrial cultivation, to date only 9 ha of pure plantation have

been established at Moliwe, just outside Limbe, by the Cameroon Development

Corporation. A further 3 ha of enrichment planting (more than 3,000 seedlings)

was established by Plantecam in 1998–99 at 1000 m altitude on the Mount

Cameroon in the Bambuko forest reserve area.

Following the prescribed methods (Nkuinkeu and Remi 1998) for sustainable

harvesting of P. africana, trees are peeled starting at 1.0 m to 1.5 m above the

ground level removing opposite quarters two or four depending on the diameter

of the tree (Figure 3). If the DBH is greater than 50 cm, four sections representing

50% of the tree circumference will be debarked from opposite sides representing

four eighths of the tree circumference from four opposite sections instead of

two (Figure 4). Even when harvesters adhere to these guidelines, however,

poor techniques expose the trees to pests, diseases and other die-back, much

of it stemming from physiological stress. In addition to direct tree felling, die-

back following harvest is leading to a significant decrease of the wild population.

1/4

left 1/4 left

1/4 debarked

Figure 3. Two opposite sections of Prunus tree debarked when 30 cm < DBH < 50cm

Source: Nkuinkeu and Remi 1998.

1/8

debarked

Figure 4. Four opposite sections of Prunus tree debarked when DBH > 50cm

Source: Nkuinkeu and Remi 1998.

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