The humid forest zone of southern Cameroon is a particularly relevant area to
explore these phenomena. The area contains some of the last undisturbed tropical
forests in SSA (Van Germeden et al. 2003; Ernst et al. 2013; Mayaux et al. 2013;
Diaw et al. 2018). These forests face increasing pressure from infrastructure development, illegal forest logging, industrial agriculture, intensive farming and mining
(Etat des forêts 2015) (see Chaps. 2, 3, 9, Vol. 1). There are concerns over the
possibility of substantial loss of forest and agro-diversity (and to an extent of local
livelihoods and human well-being), especially considering the ever-increasing population that still relies on forest-based subsistence and cash crop agriculture for its
livelihoods and the large-scale adoption of agricultural interventions from other
areas (UNDP 2012; Mala 2016). This can have important ramifications for local
livelihoods and human well-being (Mala 2016; Mala et al. 2019).
Forest landscape mosaics in this region have been traditionally managed through
a cropping fallow forest conversion cycle, which is embedded in social institutions
and customary tenure systems (Dounias 1996; Diaw 1997; Carrière 1999; Mala
2009). Agro-diversity has been central for the functioning and organization of those
agro-ecosystems, supporting local livelihoods and agro-ecological sustainability at
different spatio-temporal scales (Robiglio et al. 2002; Robiglio and Mala 2005;
Dounias 1996; Dounias and Hladik 1996; Carrière 1999; Mala et al. 2008a). This
contrasts mono-cropping approaches that have recently dominated agricultural policy and technology options in the area (Sanchez et al. 2005; Krause et al. 2013) (see
Chap. 3, Vol. 1).
Most of the currently introduced agro-diversity management approaches in the
region rely on innovations and practices derived from knowledge systems that are
external to the region (e.g. developed countries of the global North, technologies of
Sahelian countries tested in forest margins) (see Chap. 3, Vol. 2). Such management
approaches usually entail mono-cropping (e.g. for maize) and clash with the local
agro-diversity (Mala 2009, 2016). In fact, more often than not, such innovations and
practices are applied uncritically in a region characterized by (a) high ecological
complexity embedded in dynamic socio-ecological systems; (b) institutional and
economic transformations following the devaluation of the local currency (Central
African Franc, CFA) and (c) macro-economic reforms in the forestry and cocoa
sector following the crisis in the international cocoa market (Ndoye 1997; Diaw et al.
1999; Oyono et al. 2003b) (see also Chap. 9, Vol. 1).
Indeed, there are major knowledge gaps in the region that have often resulted in
poor responses and adaptive feedback mechanisms, prohibiting the effective introduction and implementation of agricultural innovations/practices in a way that
secures the local agro-diversity and meets the needs of the local communities. In
particular, there is a crucial need to understand better the biophysical and socioeconomic context of agro-diversity management, as well as how local farmers
mobilize local ecological knowledge to develop management practices for land
conversion, soil fertility and cultivation of desirable crops (see Chap. 3, Vol. 2).
Central to the above is the documentation of conflicts between local and external
knowledge systems focusing on agricultural technologies, and how their interplay
320
W. A. Mala et al.
explore these phenomena. The area contains some of the last undisturbed tropical
forests in SSA (Van Germeden et al. 2003; Ernst et al. 2013; Mayaux et al. 2013;
Diaw et al. 2018). These forests face increasing pressure from infrastructure development, illegal forest logging, industrial agriculture, intensive farming and mining
(Etat des forêts 2015) (see Chaps. 2, 3, 9, Vol. 1). There are concerns over the
possibility of substantial loss of forest and agro-diversity (and to an extent of local
livelihoods and human well-being), especially considering the ever-increasing population that still relies on forest-based subsistence and cash crop agriculture for its
livelihoods and the large-scale adoption of agricultural interventions from other
areas (UNDP 2012; Mala 2016). This can have important ramifications for local
livelihoods and human well-being (Mala 2016; Mala et al. 2019).
Forest landscape mosaics in this region have been traditionally managed through
a cropping fallow forest conversion cycle, which is embedded in social institutions
and customary tenure systems (Dounias 1996; Diaw 1997; Carrière 1999; Mala
2009). Agro-diversity has been central for the functioning and organization of those
agro-ecosystems, supporting local livelihoods and agro-ecological sustainability at
different spatio-temporal scales (Robiglio et al. 2002; Robiglio and Mala 2005;
Dounias 1996; Dounias and Hladik 1996; Carrière 1999; Mala et al. 2008a). This
contrasts mono-cropping approaches that have recently dominated agricultural policy and technology options in the area (Sanchez et al. 2005; Krause et al. 2013) (see
Chap. 3, Vol. 1).
Most of the currently introduced agro-diversity management approaches in the
region rely on innovations and practices derived from knowledge systems that are
external to the region (e.g. developed countries of the global North, technologies of
Sahelian countries tested in forest margins) (see Chap. 3, Vol. 2). Such management
approaches usually entail mono-cropping (e.g. for maize) and clash with the local
agro-diversity (Mala 2009, 2016). In fact, more often than not, such innovations and
practices are applied uncritically in a region characterized by (a) high ecological
complexity embedded in dynamic socio-ecological systems; (b) institutional and
economic transformations following the devaluation of the local currency (Central
African Franc, CFA) and (c) macro-economic reforms in the forestry and cocoa
sector following the crisis in the international cocoa market (Ndoye 1997; Diaw et al.
1999; Oyono et al. 2003b) (see also Chap. 9, Vol. 1).
Indeed, there are major knowledge gaps in the region that have often resulted in
poor responses and adaptive feedback mechanisms, prohibiting the effective introduction and implementation of agricultural innovations/practices in a way that
secures the local agro-diversity and meets the needs of the local communities. In
particular, there is a crucial need to understand better the biophysical and socioeconomic context of agro-diversity management, as well as how local farmers
mobilize local ecological knowledge to develop management practices for land
conversion, soil fertility and cultivation of desirable crops (see Chap. 3, Vol. 2).
Central to the above is the documentation of conflicts between local and external
knowledge systems focusing on agricultural technologies, and how their interplay
320
W. A. Mala et al.