Authors:
Melle Ekane Maurice, Nkwatoh Athanasius Fuashi, Ngome Laura Mesame, Ekabe Quenter Mbinde, Chokeh
Irene Chutame3, Mbole Veronique |
Abstract:
One of the most common conflicts between people and wildlife takes the form of crop- foraging.
Unfortunately, conservation research already executed is yet to have break-through in this
domain, especially in countries like Cameroon where wildlife research value lacks enough
financial motivation. Hence, the main objective of this survey is to explore the human-wildlife
conflict within the farming areas of Kumba municipality. For this to be met three hundred
questionnaires were administered to a population sample of local farmers in the study area. The
research data obtained from the field was analyzed by using Chi-square and correlation analysis.
The survey recorded a significant association between Gender and Crop-type cultivated by the
local farmers in Kumba municipality (X2 = 83.608, df=4, P <0.05). Similarly, Gender also
showed a significant relationship with the harvesting of Non Timber Forest Products by the
residents of Kumba (R2 = 0.660, P<0.05). In addition, Gender revealed a significant association
with the methods used in fighting wildlife destruction in farms (X2 = 65.861 df=5, P<0.05). Also,
the survey has shown Tubers like yams, cocoyam, cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes top in yield
(49.33%). The survey further recorded an extremely high score on bush mango harvest
(74.67%). Moreso, the application of aerosol pesticides as a deterrent to wildlife from crop
destruction showed 48.00%. The human-wildlife conflict in Cameroon would reduce when the
State government embarks on proper mitigation measures such as compensating the farmers
whose local crop-farms have been destroyed by wildlife. |
