Agroforestry in buffer zones as a strategy for biodiversity conservation and resource management: A case study from Bouba Ndjidda National Park, Cameroon

Abstract Protected areas in the Sudano-Sahelian zone face increasing threats from human activities. Implementing agroforestry systems (AFS) in buffer zones is recommended to mitigate these threats. We characterized AFS around Bouba Ndjidda National Park (BNNP), Cameroon, using ethnobotanical surveys and tree inventories in 50 m x 50 m quadrats. The study focused on AFS diversity, structure, woody plant diversity, and the uses of agroforestry trees and products by local communities to assess their contribution to conserving tree resources and proposing actions to reducing encroachment on the park's resources. Identified AFS included agroforestry parklands (98%), homegardens (83%), fallows (72%), and live fences (6%). Woody plant richness comprised 50 species from 42 genera and 23 families, with Fabaceae being the most dominant. Acacia polyacantha had the highest Importance Value Index at 88.65. Species richness was higher in fallows and agroforestry parklands. Live fences had the highest Shannon index and the lowest Simpson and Pielou's evenness indices. Tree density was higher in live fences (P Vitellaria paradoxa recorded the highest Use Value at 4.36, while Anacardium occidentale had the highest Cultural Importance Index at 1.00. Two endangered species, Khaya senegalensis and Vitellaria paradoxa, were found in the AFS. Enriching agroforestry systems with species that produce firewood and food while promoting the protection and cultivation of endangered species is crucial for biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.