Initially thought of as aseriously degraded forest area,the Bali Ngemba Forestreserve has harboured manyplants of special scientificinterest and at least 25 undescribed taxa. Coversvegetation, geology, ethnobotany, exploration, birds ofthe region, a comprehensive checklist of plantsgrowing in the region and numerous illustrationsincluding eight pages of photographs.
This is tropical Africa's first Red Data book for plants. Cameroon contains tropical Africa's most species-diverse hotspots for plants; many are rare and threatened with extinction. In the book 815 species are documented as being threatened using IUCN global assessments, most being assessed for the first time. Short species descriptions to aid identification in the field are given, as well as notes on habitats and threats, together with distribution maps and management suggestions to assist better conservation.
This book provides a flora of the Lebialem Highlands area, Cameroon. Introductory chapters cover the vegetation, geology, soil types, climate, threats, invasive and alien plants, ethnobotany and history of botanical exploration in the area. A Red Data chapter contains the results of assessing the status of all the species covered, accompanied by colour photographs of the most threatened species.
Cameroon is a land of much promise, but a land of unfulfilled promises. It has the potential to be an economically developed and democratic society but the struggle to live up to its potential has not gone well. Since independence there have been only two presidents of Cameroon; the current one has been in office since 1982. Endowed with a variety of climates and agricultural environments, numerous minerals and substantial forests, and a dynamic population, this is a country that should be a leader of Africa. Instead, we find a country almost paralyzed by corruption and poor management, a country with a low life expectancy and serious health problems, and a country from which the most talented and highly educated members of the population are emigrating in large numbers. To all of this is recently added a serious terrorism problem, Boko Haram, in the north, a separatist movement in the Anglophone west, refugee influxes in the north and east, and bandits from the Central African Republic attacking eastern villages. This fifth edition of Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Republic of Cameroon.
Oku-Ijim in the Bamenda Highlands, is a region where 96.5% of the original vegetation has been lost. A Red Data chapter assesses the status of 56 threatened taxa in detail. Chapters on the history of botanical exploration, ethnobotany, geology and soils, climate and vegetation are included.
Cameroon's tropical forest is home to numerous plants and animals. It is also inhabited by Baka pygmies who are foragers and Bantu farmers. These communities have developed forest-dependent livelihoods, cultures and religions. Destruction of the forest by commercial and state interests, subsistence agriculture and the harvesting of products has necessitated a considerable upsurge in environmental protection projects to conserve and rehabilitate ecosystems, forests, soils and water resources. Ultimately, the approach to conservation that is applied is the responsibility of the government and international development agencies. The case studies documented seek to demonstrate that a broader perspective linking environmental protection and human welfare is important for two reasons. First, it addresses the rights and needs of local people and more marginal groups in society. Second, it also ensures that fundamental conservation objectives are achieved in practice with the participation of local people. The book develop guidelines for a more integrative and socially-aware approach to environmental planning and project design and implementation. It outlines a participatory mapping procedure for the design and implementation of community forest programmes. This is a valuable book for land resource managers, environmentalists, environmental biologists, conservators, field workers and technicians involved with environmental conservation. With the professionalisation of courses in most universities, the book will constitute good reading for students of geography, biology, agriculture, forestry, botany and natural resource management.
Includes sixty research papers in separate sections on taxonomy, forests and forestry, phytogeography, ecology, and the conservation and sustainable use of African plants.
