Making a Living With Forest Insects: Beetles as an Income Source in Southwest Cameroon

F.J. Muafor; P. Levang; T.E. Angwafo; P. Le Gall

doi:10.1505/146554812802646693

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1 September 2012 Making a Living With Forest Insects: Beetles as an Income Source in Southwest Cameroon

F.J. Muafor, P. Levang, T.E. Angwafo, P. Le Gall

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International Forestry Review, 14(3):314-325 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1505/146554812802646693

Abstract

This paper describes the use of beetles (forest insects) as an income source in the Southwest region of Cameroon and the contribution of this activity to rural livelihood improvement. Data was obtained through interviews conducted in 96 households in 6 villages. We found that the beetle trade provides complementary household income to forest dependent populations who rely on agriculture, hunting and gathering for their livelihoods. Income obtained from insect trade supports basic household needs and facilitates the acquisition of some farming inputs, but the sector remains informal. Considering the socioeconomic importance of this sector, insect trade should be formalized in order to manage the resource sustainably, increase benefits from their exploitation and concomitantly foster their impact on poverty alleviation and communitybased conservation of the relic forest patches in the region.

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F.J. Muafor, P. Levang, T.E. Angwafo, and P. Le Gall "Making a Living With Forest Insects: Beetles as an Income Source in Southwest Cameroon," International Forestry Review 14(3), 314-325, (1 September 2012). https://doi.org/10.1505/146554812802646693

Published: 1 September 2012

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