Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Trees Used in Making Wooden Mortar and Pestle in the Takamanda Rainforest South West Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Forest situated at the vicinity of communities hardly attained a fixed climax community over long period due to anthropogenic and natural factors. We investigated the density, population structure and regeneration status of six tree species (Annickia chlorantha, Baphia nitida, Irvingia gabonensis, Pterocarpus soyauxii, Terminalia ivorensis and Melicia excelsa) harvested for making of wooden mortars and pestles in three forest dependent communities. Data were collected through survey and focus group discussions with wood carvers. Results showed that, the highest tree density of 142.1 trees ha-1 and 54.4 trees ha-1 were recorded for Baphia nitida in unprotected and protected forest stands: respectively. The Melicia excelsa had density of 3.1 trees ha-1. Most of the trees diameters were within the class sizes 0.0-4.9cm and 5.0-9.9cm in unprotected and protected stands. A total of 248 mortars and 477 pestles were produced in 2007-2012 while in 2001-2006 a total of 155 mortars and 304 pestles were produced in the protected and unprotected stands of the Takamanda rainforest. Kajifu 1 recorded the highest mortar (179) and Pestles (437) while Kekukesem recorded the lowest mortars (96) and pestles (136) produced from 2001-2012. We noticed that, all targeted tree species were found facing harvesting pressure from the increasing human population.