Author(s)

Natacha Nana Afiong^1,2*, Thomas Mbang Nkongo¹, Eloge Kambale Muhesi^1,3, Pascal Billong Fils^1,2, Armand Ndedy Bile^1,2, Patrice Brice Mvogo Ottou¹, Evariste Fedoung Fongnzossie⁴, Jean Lagarde Betti²

¹Department of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Wood, Water Resources and Environment, University of Bertoua, Bertoua, Cameroon.
³Department of Water and Forests, Higher Institute of Agronomic, Veterinary and Forestry Studies of Butembo, Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo.
⁴Laboratory of Forest Resources and Wood Valorization, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.

The importance of medicinal plants in maintaining and restoring health is well established. However, the high demand associated with poor harvesting practices is having a huge impact on these plants, affecting the availability of the resource for forest-dependent populations. The aim of the study was to identify endangered plant species for medicinal use in the Zoulabot Ancien Community Forest, Southeast Cameroon. Data were collected in the Yokadouma District (East Cameroon) through several activities including 1) ethnobotanical surveys conducted among villagers (specialized and non-specialized healers), 2) monitoring of villagers in their daily activity of collecting medicinal plants and 3) a floristic inventory in Zoulabot Ancien Community Forest. The endangerment of harvested species was analyzed using a set of 13 parameters, composed of internal constraints (6 parameters) and external constraints (7 parameters). The calculated vulnerability index ranges from 1.57 to 2.31, corresponding to medium to high vulnerability classes. Some of the species with high vulnerability indices are also classified in the IUCN red list as species requiring special ecological attention. These include Diospyros crassiflora, Baillonella toxisperma and Streblus usambarensis. The link between traditional uses, the monitoring and description of harvesting practices and the floristic potential of the solicited plants could be exploited to establish the vulnerability status of species at a local scale, for better monitoring of their sustainable harvesting. Such a work could lead to the development of early warning systems as a decision-making tool for specific plants. With a view to minimizing the conflicts that might exist between the harvesting of the resource by populations and the concern to manage it sustainably, it would be interesting to adopt alternative policies, such as the substitution of harvested plant organs or even little-known plant species that are useful in other communities.

Community Forest, Sustainable Management, Vulnerability Index, Alert System

Afiong, N. N., Nkongo, T. M., Muhesi, E. K., Fils, P. B., Bile, A. N., Ottou, P. B. M., Fongnzossie, E. F. and Betti, J. L. (2025) Endangerment of Medicinal Plants in the Zoulabot Ancien Community Forest (Southeastern Cameroon). Open Journal of Forestry, 15, 247-280. doi: 10.4236/ojf.2025.153014.