Management And Conservation Of Daniellia Oliveri Agroforestry Parklands In The Sudano-Sahelian Zone Of Cameroon

In Northern-Cameroon, as in other semi-arid zones of Africa, farmers have historically cleared wooded savannas to create cultivated landscapes. These human-made, multi-tiered systems are known as agroforestry parklands. Despite their agricultural importance, they have not been the subject of comprehensive scientific study concerning their sustainable management and conservation, even as they undergo significant agricultural transformation. Although related studies exist, to our knowledge, none have specifically focused on the role of indigenous knowledge in the sustainable management and conservation of Daniellia oliveri agroforestry parklands. This study aims to analyze the indigenous knowledge that facilitates the sustainable management of these parklands. A methodological approach based on farmer surveys was employed in the Bénoué and Mayo-Rey divisions. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered to a total of 504 farm operators managing D. oliveri parklands, with 252 operators selected from each division. The results indicate that the management of D. oliveri parklands is guided by traditional practices such as pruning (94.58%) and bushfire control (46.42%). Soil fertility is maintained through the application of organic fertilizers (50.79%) and crop rotation (27.94%). A floristic inventory revealed a regeneration rate of 59.79%. Seedling density varied from 14 stems per hectare in actively cultivated parks to 53 stems per hectare in fallow parklands. Agricultural yields ranged from 1.6 t/ha for Oryza sativa to 11.11 t/ha for Zea mays. The findings demonstrate that indigenous knowledge provides an effective foundation for the sustainable management and conservation of Daniellia oliveri agroforestry parklands.