COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST , C AMEROON
PATR ICK MBOSSO, E N V IR O N M EN TA L R E S OU R C E S M AN AG E ME N T A N D S OC IA L
I S S U E C E N TR E
R E V IE W E D B Y : J E N N Y M E R R IM A N , R O S IE T R E V E L Y AN
P RELIMINARY
WORK
This case study was done at the COPAL community forest, which is located in the centre region of
Cameroon (4° 19' 0" North, 11° 36' 0" East). Three sites were under study, the community forest
(current state), cocoa plantations in the course of certification (alternative state 1) and cocoa plantations
not engaged in certification (alternative state 2). The total surface area is 4,800 ha and the COPAL
community forest covers an area of 3,100 ha. The local community holds tenure rights of the land.
The habitat types in the area include forest and shrub savannah consisting of woodland, grassland and
farmlands. Swamping forests spots are also found within the site and the entire length of the forest is
bordered by the Sanaga River. Some of the drivers of change in the site are the expansion of smallscale agriculture (cocoa farms), overharvesting of wild goods and animal trapping. The pressure for
land conversion is high in the area since agriculture is the main source of income for local
communities.
R APID
APPRAISAL
The key stakeholders that were consulted during the rapid appraisal were harvesters, buyers/middlemen
and local consumers. The ecosystems provided in the site of study are global climate regulation, water
services, harvested wild goods and cultivated goods. The ecosystem services that were also identified
by the rapid appraisal that TESSA could not measure are maintenance of genetic diversity, and
education and spiritual services.
Most of the local population (local communities) harvest wild goods - 75% to 90% of the population
collects wild goods from the forest. The non-local rural and urban people either purchase or sell wild
goods that were bought from the community. The prices for harvested wild goods are not set and
harvesters tend to sell wild goods as soon as they find a buyer.
I DENT IFYING
PLAUSIBLE ALTERNAT IVE STATE
The alternative state for the assessment were cocoa plantations that are privately owned. The
alternative state 1 were plantations with a certification scheme and the alternative state 2 were cocoa
plantations without a certification scheme. It wasn’t difficult to identify the alternative state there are
plenty of cocoa farms in the area. However, it was difficult to develop trust with stakeholders from
cocoa plantations under certification schemes (alternative state 1), who seemed suspicious of our work.
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
M ETHODS
SELECT ION
The services assessed were global climate regulation, water services, harvested wild goods and
cultivated goods. The methods used to assess these services were the following
a.
Global climate regulation
TESSA methods were applied to estimate the carbon stocks within our three sites of study;
community natural forest (current state), cocoa plantations in the course of certification
(alternative state 1) and cocoa plantations not engaged in certification (alternative state 2).
Thirty-eight transects of 5 m X 100 m were surveyed and we measured a total of 196 trees.
The parameter for above-ground biomass (AGB) was a diameter of 30 cm high for cocoa
trees, while the diameter at breast height and wood density were the main parameters for the
AGB estimation of other tree species.
b.
Water services
The socio-economic approach from TESSA was used and 32 households were surveyed. We
also organised focus groups when issues related to water availability, sustainability or flood
protection emerged. Water quality was also evaluated under a hydrological approach based on
organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics. Water samples were collected from various
water points across the three sites.
c.
Harvested wild goods
TESSA surveys were collected from 32 households
d.
Cultivated goods
TESSA surveys were collected from 32 households and focus groups were also organised
A NALYSIS
AND COMMUNIC AT ION
Global climate regulation
Six main plant species were found to be representative of the community forest, Eribroma oblongum,
Milicia exelsa, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Sterculia rhinopetala, Terminalia superba, and Triplochyton
sleroxylon. The cocoa farms are mainly dominated by Theobroma cacao. See Table 1 and Figure 1
below for carbon storage results
Table 1. Carbon storage estimation in current state and alternative states
Area (ha)
Transect size (ha)
Number of sampling
transects
Mean carbon stock
(Mg / ha)
Community forest
(current state)
3100
Cocoa farm cert.
(alternative state 1)
1.5
Cocoa farm not cert.
(alternative state 2)
1.5
0.05
0.05
0.05
38
3
3
194.2
62.7
59.4
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
Standard deviation
62.9
13.9
13.2
Total carbon stock
(3100 ha)
602,052
194,524
184,089
Mean Carbon (Mg/ha)
Community forest (current
site)
Cocoa farm for certification
(alternative site 1)
Cocoa farm not engaged
(alternative site 2)
0
50
100
150
200
250
Figure 1. Mean carbon storage comparison (per hectare)
Water-related services
Rain is the main source of water for all sites. There are ten well-defined sources of water, two of them
available at the certified cocoa site, two sources available at the uncertified cocoa site, and six sources
available within the forest site. Forested areas (current state) don’t seem to be affected by flooding.
Water consumption per household varies between 160 and 320 liters per day. Water scarcity is not an
issue in the forest (current state). However, households in the cocoa plantations do suffer from water
shortages during the dry seasons. Water shortages peak in January and February according to
household respondents. Figure 2 below shows the number of households (from a sample of 32
households) that acknowledged water shortages during the year
30
25
20
current site
15
alternative 1
10
alternative 2
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Figure 2. Shortage of water at current state and alternative states
Sediment has increased in agro-forestry areas according to household respondents (a sample of 32
households were interviewed). See Figure 3 below
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
35
30
25
20
current site
alternative 1
15
alternative 2
10
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Figure3. Sediment per month in current and alternative states
The results from water quality tests show an advanced state of degradation in the alternative site 2. This
is based on the colour and smell characteristics of the water in the area, which might not have health
significance but indicates a certain level of pollution. Table 2 below provides details of the
organoleptic characteristics from water in the current and alternative states. Table 3 provides
information in regards to the physical characteristics of the water in the areas of study and table 4
provide information regarding water pollution indicators.
Table 2. Organoleptic characteristics in the current and alternative states
Community forest
(current state)
Cocoa farm cert
(alternative state 1)
Cocoa farm not cert
(alternative state 2)
Colour
1.33±0.58
2.00±0.00
2.60±0.55
Odour
1.00±1.00
2.00±0.00
2.00±0.00
Codification legend: 3=high; 2=average; 1=low; 0=null
Table 3. Water physical characteristics in the current and alternative states
Parameters
PH
(6,5 = pH = 9,2)
Temperature
(25 ° C)
Conductivity
(2100 u S/cm)
Turbidity
(mg SiO2/l)
Community forest
(current state)
Cocoa farm cert
(alternative state 1)
Cocoa farm not cert
(alternative state 2)
6.57 ± 0.5
7.29 ± 0.3
7.97 ± 0.5
28.48 ± 1.15
29.09 ± 1.20
28.65 ± 0.79
1753.33 ± 220.30
1375.00 ± 177.78
2104.40 ± 380.10
9.73 ± 0.48
9.43 ± 0.12
10.02 ± 1.64
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
Suspended solid
99.78 ± 143.99
46.67 ± 4.72
213.20 ± 116.73
Table 4. Water pollution indicators in the current and alternative states
Parameters
Community forest
(current state)
Cocoa farm cert
(alternative state 1)
Cocoa farm not cert
(alternative state 2)
BOD5 (30mg/l)
20.34 ± 2.85
35.31 ± 1.35
46.16 ± 5.54
COD ((200mg/l)
104.30± 32.39
93.87± 6.17
184.24± 6.81
Harvested wild goods
There are different wild goods harvested by forest users (table 5) but the main products harvested by
the local community are Djansang, bush onion, halopegia and okok. The quantities of wild goods
harvested annually and the revenue derived from these are shown in tables 6 and 7 below
Table 5. Harvested wild goods in the community forest and alternative states
Commercial name
Scientific name
Part harvested
Mode of harvest
Use
Djansang or
Ricinodendron
Fruit and bark
P, E
Food, medicine
essessang
hedeulottii
Bush onion
Afrostyrax
Fruit, leaves,
P, E, H
Food, medicine,
lepidophyllus
bark, roots,
sap
Halopegia
Halopegia azurea
Leaves
H
Wrapping
Raphia
Raphia spp.
Bamboo, sap,
H
Food,
fruits
construction
Okok
Gnetum spp.
Stem, leaves
H
Food
Bittacola
Garcinia cola
Grains, bark,
P, H
Food, medicine
P,H
Food
roots
Andok
Irvingia spp.
Fruit,
cotyledon
Colanut
Cola spp.
Grains
P, H
Food, medicine
Emien
Alstonia boonei
Bark
E
Medicine
Legend: P=pick, E=extraction, H=harvest
Table 6. Quantities of wild goods harvested annually (for 3100 ha)
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
Quantities
Current state
Alternative state 1
Alternative state 2
Djansang
38 bags
23 bags
22 bags
Bush onion
130 bags
109 bags
109 bags
Halopegia
206 bundles
41 bundles
41 bundles
Okok
164 bundles
23 bundles
23 bundles
Table 7. Revenue ( Frs. CFA) derived from harvested wild goods in current and alternative
states
Revenue (frs CFA)
Current state
Alternative state 1
Alternative state 2
Djansang
1,713,600
10,20,600
986,850
Bush onion
1,297,200
1,088,000
1,092,000
Halopegia
61,683,000
12,336,600
1,236,300
Okok
24,695,550
3,520,350
3,518,700
1£=750 Frs. CFA
Results from surveys show that around 20% of the sample population harvest wild goods for
consumption, while 80% harvest wild goods for commercial reasons. The legislation on the harvest of
wild goods is not enforced so there are no real restrictions on the quantity of goods collected from the
forest. The significant difference is between halpegia and oko where more income is derived from
these in the forested area than the plantations (Fig. 4).
70000000
60000000
Revenue
50000000
40000000
Current site
Alternative site 1
30000000
Alternative site 2
20000000
10000000
0
Djansang Bush onion Halopegia
Okok
Figure 4. Revenue (Frs. CFA) derived from harvested wild goods in current and alternative
states . 1£=750 Frs. CFA
Cultivated goods
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]
Cultivated goods consist of cocoa beans from cocoa farms, cocoa beans are not found in the current
state. The differences between the alternative site 1 and alternative site 2 is the certification scheme.
Farmers perceive that the certification scheme is a payment for ecosystem services conservation. We
were not able to distinguish the net monetary benefit for cocoa farmers because this seems to be a
taboo subject.
Table 8: Summary of cultivated goods (cocoa beans)
Mean quantity
harvested per ha (t)
Mean price per kg ( in
Frs. CFA)
Mean income per ha
and per year (in Frs.
CFA)
0
Current site
(community forest)
Alternative state 1
0
0
0.60 + 0.40
950 ± 100
950,000
Alternative state 2
0.45 + 0.30
900 ± 100
675,000
TESSA results were communicated to stakeholders in local workshops, and three seminars were
organised to share findings with university students, professional students from the Forestry and Water
School and civil servants from the Ministry of Environment.
TESSA helped us to raise awareness and interest on forest conservation among the local population.
We have been granted £5825 by Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation for a project on
mapping high conservation value forest (HCVF) for adaptive management. We are also developing a
network of TESSA users and planning to carry out a comparative TESSA trans-boundaries project on
ecosystem services from mangroves in Cameroon, Ghana and Madagascar.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR NEW TESSA USERS

Users can complement TESSA with alternative methods if relevant

It is very important to collect baseline information and to conduct an in-depth/strategic rapid
appraisal

We found that it was easy to collect large amounts of data in regards to harvested wild goods,
which made data analysis difficult and time consuming. Perhaps it would be better to plan this
section of the assessment in a more target way or to make it fixed on specific goods.

Plan carefully how to collect, manage, integrate and present facts in regards to the
economic/financial value of goods
Suggested citation: Mbosso, P.A. (2015) COPAL COMMUNITY FOREST, CAMEROON. Accepted TESSA
case study. Available at [http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/science/assessing-ecosystem-services-tessa]