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1 INTRODUCTION
Between 1995 and 1997, a study on agricultural systems practised by the Bantu population was
conducted in the research area of the Tropenbos-Cameroon Programme (TCP). The TCP
research area is about 180 000 ha in size, and located 70 km East of Kribi between the villages
Bipindi and Akom II (Figure 1.1). The study was to provide a comprehensive description on the
farming systems applied in the TCP research area, with emphasis on shifting cultivation /
natural fallow systems, and insight in soil (fertility) degradation related to such agricultural
practices. Trends and relationships between agricultural field expansion, soil degradation, crop
yields, fallow and population pressure were to be determined, this should lead to
recommendations for sustainable forest land use.
1.1 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The objective of the Tropenbos-Cameroon Programme is to develop methods and strategies for
natural forest management directed at sustainable production of timber and other products and
services. These methods have to be ecologically sound, socially acceptable, technically feasible
and economically viable, and to take other functions of the forest into consideration.
Shifting cultivation is the dominant farming systems component practised in the tropical forest
zone of Cameroon. Although a good deal of publications exist on shifting cultivation in other
areas of the world, and although shifting cultivation has been described for semi-humid areas in
Cameroon, information on this type of land use in the moist evergreen forest of south Cameroon
is scarce.
Although the Tropical Forestry Action Plan (MINAGRI, 1989) did not foresee a significant
agricultural pressure on forest land in southern Cameroon, a Rapid Rural Appraisal conducted
during TCP’s formulation phase revealed that present trends in these agricultural practices,
under increasing influence of market economy as result of local infrastructure development
(rural electrification and road construction), may well lead to expansion of agricultural land in
the near future (Foahom and Jonkers, 1992).
The TCP programme formulation team came to the conclusion that in order to achieve
sustainability of forest production in the forest zone, sustainability of crop production must be
studied conjointly, since shifting cultivation may represent a greater threat to forest than timber
harvesting.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.2.1 General objective
To reduce destructive effects of shifting cultivation on the forest by proposing to farmers
complementary and / or alternative sedentary practices and by providing information to be
utilised for the sustainable forest land use in southern Cameroon.
1.2.2 Specific objectives
1) To gain understanding of the farming systems practices in the evergreen forest of
Cameroon, the problems, constraints and opportunities related to forest conservation and
agricultural production.
2) To obtain insight in aspects of soil degradation under smallholders’ agricultural land use
systems applied in the evergreen forest of Cameroon.
3) To find trends and relationships between field expansion, soil degradation, crop yield, and
population pressure.
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