Abstract

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This paper has examined the Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest of the South West Region of Cameroon in terms of its biodiversity potentials, problems or challenges involved in forest exploitation and management, and the prospects, so as to bridge the gap between forest exploitation, conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Data for this study were collected using primary and secondary techniques. Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques such as field observations, administration of questionnaires and interviews constituted the main primary data collection techniques. Secondary data, published or unpublished, were also important in this study. The findings revealed that the Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest (BBCF) is rich in biodiversity potentials of flora and fauna, though some of which are either threatened or endangered by increasing human activities. There is the continuous proliferation of illicit activities within and around the forest which have led to degradation of the forest and its biodiversity over the years. This has been a major challenge as members of the management committee work hard to bridge the gap between forest conservation on the one hand, and livelihood sustenance through forest exploitation on the other. The findings also revealed the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) to the sustainability of the forest based on the views of the entire population and those of the forest management committee members. The main recommendation is in line with the continuous drive to reinforce the legislation on restricting illicit activities within and around this community forest, which falls in line with the concept of protected area management. The demarcated boundaries should be patrolled periodically so as to check illegal activities perpetuated in the forest.

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