Celestine Fonyikeh-Bomboh Lucha and George B. Chuyong ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF FODDER/FORAGE PLANT SPECIES IN RANGE AND FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE SAVANNAHS OF NORTH WESTERN CAMEROON Celestine Fonyikeh-Bomboh Lucha and George B. Chuyong

OUTLINE INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION Savannas occupy about 20% of the global land surface area and 40% in Africa (van Wilgen et al., 2000). UNCCD, 1994. Articles 6-9, 12, 13, 26 CBD The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

INTRODUCTION CONT’D Fodder plants have played a significant role in feeding domestic animals.

INTRODUCTION CONT’D Income for resource-poor farmers Strategic goals A,B,C and D of the CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2014. Degraded pasture land. *Ogunbosoye and Babayemi (2010). FAO, feed resources present in the developing world. Extensive animal production.

INTRODUCTION CONT’D Objectives To explore the ethnobotanical knowledge of the local people in Ngoketunjia Division. To raise awareness among the local community about the protection of native fodder/forage flora. To propose guidelines for proper utilization, management and conservation of useful plants and the landscape.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Figure 1. Study area

MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethnobotanical surveys Semi-structured Interviews. Discussions. Direct field observations (Bele et al., 2011; Zereen and Khan, 2012; Bahru, 2014).

Materials and methods CONT’D Collecting, pressing and identification

Common/Vernacular name RESULTS 151 species, 105 genera, 44 families. The plant families, Poaceae (31 species), Fabaceae (22 species) and Asteraceae (14 species). Table 1. Checklist of the plants sampled Family Species Common/Vernacular name Parts used Acanthaceae Dychoriste perrotteti ( Nees) O. Ktze Botoron (Mbororo) Aerial Amaranthaceae Amaranthus hybridus L. feih (Bamunka) Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica L. manguteh (Bamunka) Leaves, fruits Annonaceae Annona senegalensis Pers Dokonih (Mbororo) Araceae Colocasia esculenta Schott ibo coco Tuber Araliaceae Cussonia arborea Hochst. Ex A Rich Yamasehtoh (Mbororo) Leaves Arecaceae Elaeis guineensis Jacq king tree, Teng Asteraceae Aspilia africana (Pers.) C.D. Adams Iodine grass, Tahkamahoh (Mbororo), Burseraceae Canarium schweinfurtii Engl. black, bevakeh (Bamunka) Caesalpiniaceae Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Red Head Barkerih (Mbororo)

Common/Vernacular name Table 1 cont’d Family Species Common/Vernacular name Parts used Combretaceae Terminalia laxifolia Engl. & Diels Njoboh (Bamunka) Leaves Fabaceae Desmodium ascendens (Sw.) DC Bihligewah (Mbororo) Aerial Hypericaceae Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poir Bonechi (Bamunka) Leaves, twigs Malvaceae Urena lobata Linn Bodoroh (Mbororo) Moraceae Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq fig, Bambamiwoh Myrtaceae Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC Bohdeh Leaves, fruits Phyllanthaceae Bridelia ferruginea Benth Fentebih (Bamunka) Poaceae Brachiaria lata (Schumach) C.E Hubbard cow grass, Tohlejih Rubiaceae Crosopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G. Don) Benth Shunih (Mbororo) Verbenaceae Vitex doniana Sweet Bih (Bamunka) Zingiberaceae Aframomum danielli K. Schum kenchou, Chukeh (Bamunka) Fruits, leaves

Fig 2: Distribution of plants with respect to their morphology Fig 3: Distribution of plants according to parts used as fodder

Fig 4: The threats to the fodder plants

Drivers of deforestation and degradation

Fig 5: The availability of the fodder plants

Some plant pictures 15 Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill Brachiaria lata (Schumach) C.E Hubbard Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill Andropogon tectorum Schum. & Thonn. 15 Peratis indica L. Entada africana Guill & Perr Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Var. reclinata

Terminalia laxifolia Engl. & Diels Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Red head Vitex doniana Sweet Urena lobata Linn

DISCUSSION 30 species are used to treat diseases of the reproductive system in Ndop Central Sub- division, Cameroon (Focho et al., 2009). 19 species as medicinal plants in Babungo, Cameroon (Simbo, 2010). 20 are medicinal plants of Cameroon (Adjanohoun et al., 1996). Table 2. Number of plants recorded Number recorded Location Author 25 Mt. Cameroon Cable and Cheek (1998). 14 Mt. Oku and Ijim Ridge, Cameroon Cheek et al. (2000). 8 Dom, Bamenda Highlands Cheek et al. (2010). 6 Lebialem Highlands, Cameroon Harvey et al. (2010).

Table 3. Some fodder plants in other countries Country Species Author Rwanda Calliandra calothysus, Leucaena leucocephala and Pennisetum purpureum Holmström (2013). Mali Arachis hypogea and Vigna unguiculata Speedy and Pugliese, (2011). Nepal Bidens pilosa, Cajanus cajan, Ficus benghalensis, Oryza sativa and Zea mays Malla and Chhetri, (2009). Only 20 species sampled are in the list of animal feed resources information system- INRA CIRAD AFZ and FAO (Feedipia, 2012- 2013). Only 17 of the 151 species sampled were reported by Pamo, 2008 in the country pasture/forage resource profiles Only 14 were cited by Speedy and Pugliese, 2011 as trees and shrubs of known fodder value in tropical humid Africa.

GUIDELINES The nutritive values of the key fodder and forage plants are determined. Increasing the stock through planting (fencing material, direct sowing). Improved agricultural practices. Sensitization by carrying out environmental education.

CONCLUSION The savannahs of Ngoketunjia Division, North Western Cameroon is endowed with fodder plants (herbs, shrubs and tree species) which are an important feed source for livestock in the area. Details of graze, browse production and nutritive value are still lacking for most of the species identified.

RECOMMENDATIONS For optimum utilisation of fodder herbs, trees and shrubs, it is essential that details of production, palatability, nutritive value and deleterious substances of the species are measured. Integration of livestock production within local farming systems. The use of browse plants for fencing land. Direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems (DMC) of cover plants like grasses (Brachiaria lata, Eleusine indica, Panicum repens, Sorghum bicolor and leguminous plants (Cajanus cajan).

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