An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon

Arguing that agroforestry associations are important for biodiversity conservation, certification schemes are seeking to differentiate commodities on the basis of the biodiversity included in the cropping system, in order to financially encourage more“wildlife friendly” production systems through ma...

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Autores principales: Gockowski, J., Tchatat, M., Dondjang, J.P., Hietet, G., Fouda, T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90315
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author Gockowski, J.
Tchatat, M.
Dondjang, J.P.
Hietet, G.
Fouda, T.
author_browse Dondjang, J.P.
Fouda, T.
Gockowski, J.
Hietet, G.
Tchatat, M.
author_facet Gockowski, J.
Tchatat, M.
Dondjang, J.P.
Hietet, G.
Fouda, T.
author_sort Gockowski, J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Arguing that agroforestry associations are important for biodiversity conservation, certification schemes are seeking to differentiate commodities on the basis of the biodiversity included in the cropping system, in order to financially encourage more“wildlife friendly” production systems through market mechanisms. However, biologists and economists have begun to question the overall impact on biodiversity and poverty when relatively extensive “wildlife friendly” agroforestry systems are encouraged in lieu of more intensified systems. Field inventories were taken of the plants utilized from 67 ha of cocoa agroforests (CAFs) in southern Cameroon among 46 households. Two hundred eighty-six plant species were utilized as foods, medicinal plants, timber, and service products. From interviews with household members it was revealed that non-cocoa revenues accounted for one quarter of total CAF revenues. Per capita revenues from the CAF were positively skewed and exceeded the poverty line for 29% of the sampled population. Monetary returns from the CAF increased with increasing agricultural intensification and market access. The findings suggest that intensified use of cocoa fungicides, improved market institutions, and expansion of the CAF area cultivated per household would reduce rural poverty in southern Cameroon. Overall, the plant diversity of CAFs degraded slightly as intensification proceeded.
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spelling CGSpace903152024-05-01T08:18:22Z An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon Gockowski, J. Tchatat, M. Dondjang, J.P. Hietet, G. Fouda, T. southern cameroon agricultural intensification biodiversity cocoa agroforests poverty reduction trade-offs Arguing that agroforestry associations are important for biodiversity conservation, certification schemes are seeking to differentiate commodities on the basis of the biodiversity included in the cropping system, in order to financially encourage more“wildlife friendly” production systems through market mechanisms. However, biologists and economists have begun to question the overall impact on biodiversity and poverty when relatively extensive “wildlife friendly” agroforestry systems are encouraged in lieu of more intensified systems. Field inventories were taken of the plants utilized from 67 ha of cocoa agroforests (CAFs) in southern Cameroon among 46 households. Two hundred eighty-six plant species were utilized as foods, medicinal plants, timber, and service products. From interviews with household members it was revealed that non-cocoa revenues accounted for one quarter of total CAF revenues. Per capita revenues from the CAF were positively skewed and exceeded the poverty line for 29% of the sampled population. Monetary returns from the CAF increased with increasing agricultural intensification and market access. The findings suggest that intensified use of cocoa fungicides, improved market institutions, and expansion of the CAF area cultivated per household would reduce rural poverty in southern Cameroon. Overall, the plant diversity of CAFs degraded slightly as intensification proceeded. 2010-10-14 2018-01-16T12:03:29Z 2018-01-16T12:03:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90315 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Gockowski, J., Tchatat, M., Dondjang, J.P., Hietet, G. & Fouda, T. (2010). An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in Southern Cameroon. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 29(6-8), 638-670.
spellingShingle southern cameroon
agricultural intensification
biodiversity
cocoa agroforests
poverty reduction
trade-offs
Gockowski, J.
Tchatat, M.
Dondjang, J.P.
Hietet, G.
Fouda, T.
An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title_full An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title_fullStr An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title_short An empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern Cameroon
title_sort empirical analysis of the biodiversity and economic returns to cocoa agroforests in southern cameroon
topic southern cameroon
agricultural intensification
biodiversity
cocoa agroforests
poverty reduction
trade-offs
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90315
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