Louis Defo 295(Laccosperma secundiflorum)- To identify components, outline major characteristics, functioning
mechanisms, social, economic and cultural importance as well as
constraints related to the rattan sector in Cameroon; - To access the pressure on the resource base and the impact of this
NTFP exploitation; and - To contribute to a strategy that can lead to the development of the
rattan industry and the sustainable management of the resource.
Although Cameroon has many regions where rattan exploitation for
commercial purposes is relatively important (Sunderland et al. 2003), this
chapter focuses exclusively on the Yaoundé basin. The region is situated in
the south of Cameroon (3°05'–4°00' north; 11°25'–12°50' east) and constitutes
the most important rattan exploitation basin of the country. It is a zone in
which the Guinea type of Equatorial climate predominates and which is covered
by humid dense forest (Laclavère 1979). The study region comprises both towns
and rural areas. In villages, agriculture is the most important activity.
This chapter briefly analyses the production-to-consumption system of
rattan in this region. It focuses particularly on the raw material production,
processing, marketing and the policy environment of rattan. The chapter also
presents trends and issues in the sector. Finally, it tackles the conservation
and development lessons of rattan exploitation in the region.17Rattan.P65 295 22/12/2004, 11:05