Farmers' local knowledge of soil fertility in bamboo plantations in the Western Highlands, Cameroon

Cameroon is strongly committed to restoring degraded land through the sustainable use of bamboo and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and reduction of CO2 emissions. However, research has not yet revealed how bamboo is perceived locally in production zones where most harvested species are wild and from natural forests. This assessed the local perception and knowledge of farmers in the Western Highlands of Cameroon on soil fertility in bamboo plantations. Ethnopedological surveys were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires in three departments of the Western Region. During the study, three focus groups were organized, followed by direct field observations and individual interviews with 200 people. The easily identifiable indicators used were soil colour, texture, fertility status, and water-holding capacity. The majority of respondents (67.5%) stated that the soils of bamboo plantations are infertile and not suitable for agriculture, 18.5% found these soils very fertile and suitable for agriculture and 14% found them moderate. The main points cited by farmers as positive for the use of bamboo are the fight against landslides and the reduction of soil erosion (33% and 30.5% of respondents, respectively). The main negative points cited were the invasive effect of bamboo and the extensive root system in the soil (52.5% and 15.5% of respondents respectively). To facilitate the adoption of bamboo in restoration projects in Cameroon, it is important to integrate farmers’ views into the policy formulation process. The results presented in this study will facilitate dialogue among farmers, agronomic advisors, and researchers. Policymakers and planners will also be beneficiaries of the research, and will be enabled to propose solutions for the better planning of restoration activities on bamboo.