Local Knowledges and Plants Conservation in Two Communities in the Menoua Division (Western Cameroon)

Abstract

Introduction: Rural communities in the Menoua Division (West Region, Cameroon) rely heavily on plant biodiversity for healthcare, nutrition, and socioeconomic needs. However, changing lifestyles and ecosystem degradation threaten the sustainability of these resources and the transmission of associated traditional knowledge. Objective: This study aimed to inventory useful plant species in the Bafou and Baloum communities and to document their associated traditional uses. Methodology: Semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted with 120 informants. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Frequency of Citation (FC) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to analyse traditional medicinal and food plant uses. Results: A total of 110 medicinal species were identified for 34 ailments across 12 organ systems, predominantly digestive disorders (35.3%) and systemic/infectious diseases (26.5%). Leaves (~50%) were the primary plant part harvested, decoction was the main preparation method, and oral administration predominated. High agreement was found for abdominal pain (ICF = 0.7 in Bafou and 1.0 in Baloum) and malaria (ICF = 0.8 in Baloum). Older adults (≥50 years) were identified as the primary custodians of this knowledge. A total of 93 edible species were recorded, led by Musa paradisiaca L., Zea mays L., and Allium cepa L., which had the highest frequencies of citation. Conclusion: These findings provide a foundation for pharmacological validation and highlight important components of nutritional resilience in rural populations. The concentration of traditional knowledge among older generations underscores the need for continued documentation to reduce the risk of knowledge erosion.