Win-wins in forest product value chains?: how governance impacts the sustainability of livelihoods based on non-timber forest products from Cameroon

Abstract

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as nuts, leaves, resins, barks and honey from Cameroon have medicinal, food, energy and cultural uses. This study examines the arrangements governing eight such NTFP value chains, worth over 32 million US$ annually with around 34,000 people active, investigating their impacts on the livelihoods of the harvesters, traders and consumers involved. Multiple arrangements are prevalent: regulations, traditions, market-based, projects, involuntary standards and corruption. The mix and intensitiy of arrangements governing access to species and markets results in sharp trade-offs between the sustainability of the species and socio-economic benefits gained by different groups in the chains.