CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Globally, the high rate of human population growth, unemployment, poverty and the quest for forest resources such as fuel wood, timbers and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have increased deforestation levels. Most forest resources are at the verge of extinction because of over-exportation. The forest provides ecosystem services such as water cycle, carbon sequestration and natural regeneration of seedlings which predicts the future forest cover (Marques et al., 2019). The forest also provides numerous goods and services to support human such as timber and materials, firewood, food, medicines, fodder for livestock, and a variety of sources of income. Human impacts on the terrestrial ecosystem reduces productivity and biodiversity increasing the intensity of natural disturbance. This triggers a reduction in habitat distribution, species dominance, interference of natural regeneration of indigenous tree seedlings (Holmgren et al., 2006). Grazing activities and urbanization due to population pressure and increasing demands for wood are major contributors of deforestation.  Other cultural activities also degrades or interrupt with natural regeneration (Okumu, 2017). The  forest, protect the fertility and stability of soils, play a key role in watershed management, and are the habitats of countless species of wildlife, and homes for many cultures and communities (Marfo, 2010; Ankomah, 2012). However, the problem of encroachment of public forest through physical development pose problems to sustainable resource utilization. Kpontsu, (2011) found that, these natural features have been destroyed everyday as a result of encroachm.

Encroachment on public property is defined as:” the existence of any structure or item of any kind under, upon, in, or over the project lands or waters and/or the destruction, injury, defacement, removal or any alteration of public property including natural formations, historical and archaeological features, and vegetative growth (Agyen-Brefo, 2012). It also “denotes an illegal activity as one where the person who encroaches is not deemed to have any legal right to do so” (Shitima, 2005). The above two definitions suggest that encroachment results when there is an unlawful activity/entry on forest (gradually and withoutpermission).
 Cameroon’s forest cover 45.6% of national territory, approximately 21,245,000 hectares (FAO, 2005). Most of her forests form part of the Congo basin forest which is the second largest area of dense tropical forest in the world following the Amazon basin (CARPE, 2006).

Cameroon is ranked second in terms of forest cover in Africa after Democratic Republic of Congo. These forests have been divided into permanent and non-permanent forests estates. The permanent forests estates otherwise known as protected areas are considered to be areas belonging to the state and so closed from all unauthorized human activities.

These protected areas which are further divided into wildlife protected areas and forest reserves proper (MINEF, 1994) are estimated to cover 11% (approximately 5.2 million hectares) of the national territory (MINEP, 2009). A majority of these protected areas were created by the colonial administrators but after independence, the administration in place continued to designate areas as being under protection. The objective of the first administration was that protected areas should cover at least 20% of the total surface area of the country (MINAGRI, 1973) but this target was later increased to 30 % (MINEF, 1994).

The Loum Forest Reserve is a protected area was created by Decree No 162 of 12 /06/1932 with a total surface area of 1100ha with about 310Ha (DDFOF MOUNGO 2023 unpublished) calved out for administrative uses such as Sub-Divisional office building, forestry, agriculture and  hospital buildings. The objectives of LFR are protecting and conserving the tropical rain forest and its rich biodiversity. However, there is an increase and continues encroachment of the LFR which is been observed by the presence of peasant farms in the reserve, illegal forest exploitation, bush fire and other anthropogenic activities. Today the LFR is becoming an ecological shadow of itself due to the effects of encroachment.

1.2 Problem Statement

As IUCN (2003) notes, many proclaimed protected areas in developing nations exist more on paper than in practices.

High rate of population growth, poverty, land scarcity and wealth of the tropical rain forest had led to the encroachment and the deforestation of the Loum Forest Reserve. Since the demand of agricultural activity and demographic pressure increased land has become limited resource, people tend to extend their activity across the forest reserve or tress pass the reserve boundary. This encroachment is severely witness in the LFR. Rampant rate of the encroachment of the Loum Forest Reserve, observed by the presence of anthropogenic activities within this reserve is a called for concern. Today the LFR is becoming an ecological shadow of itself due to the effects of encroachment. The encroachment on the LFR has intensified in the last two decades and the damage has been intensive. Previously, people respected the boundaries of the protected forest landscape and the anthropogenic activities were minimal. It is not clear what the underlying cause of this problem, although many reasons have been advanced ranging from increasing population growth and poverty.

In this study, factors leading to encroachment will be look upon, analyze of natural regeneration of indigenous trees seedlings and determination of the overexploited trees species thus, and propose solution to mitigate the effects of encroachment to the LFR. However, there are no published studies which have tried to research on the effects of encroachment on Loum Forest

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What are the effects of encroachment on the Loum Forest Reserve?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

1. What are the factors leading to encroachment in Loum Forest Reserve?
2. How is the regeneration of indigenous tree seedlings in Loum Forest Reserve affected by encroachment from the forest edge?
3. What are overexploited/endangered trees species in the Loum Forest Reserve?

1.4 Research Objectives

1.4.1 Main Research Objective

To assess the effects of encroachment on the Loum Forest Reserve.

1.4.2 Specific Research Objectives

1. To assess the factors leading to encroachment in Loum Forest Reserve
2. To analyze regeneration of indigenous tree seedlings in Loum Forest Reserve as affected by encroachment from the forest edge
3. To determine the most overexploited/endangered trees species in the Loum Forest Reserve.