As part of LCLUC funded project “Disentangling Land-Use Change in Central Africa to Understand the Role of Local and Indigenous Communities in Forest Restoration and Conservation” led by Dr. Elsa Ordway (UCLA), PhD student Hannah Stouter (UCLA) led fieldwork in Cameroon alongside a team of researchers including Fanny Djomkam (IITA), Zita Tchengo (Univ. of Yaounde I), Raissa Njundiyimun (Nat. Forestry School - Mbalmayo), Charles Assam (Univ. of Dschang), Dr. Claude Tatuebu Tagne (IITA), Jordan Mbe (Nat. Forestry School - Mbalmayo), Alysson Bery (IBAY-SUP), Benedicta Ningying (Univ. of Bamenda), Wesner Epie (UC-Irvine), and Serge Assola (CBI) to conduct household surveys and delineated farms in 32 villages all around the Dja Faunal Reserve in South East Cameroon. Over the course of two and half months between July and September 2024, the team was able to conduct 313 surveys and delineate more than 700 fields. The surveys included questions about land-use change, conservation and livelihood projects, non-timber forest products, and ecosystem services. The data will be analyzed to understand what factors drive small-scale land-use change in communities around the Dja Reserve. The results will then be combined with land-use change maps being developed at a regional scale from 2000-2024 as part of the same project to link drivers of land-use change at a local scale with regional patterns of change.

Photo 1 : The team on the last day of fieldwork in Miloh. From left to right: Serge Assola, Charles Assam, Julius Afewoh, Alysson Bery, Hannah Stouter, Raissa Njundiyimun, and Zita Tchengo.

Photo 2 : Luc, the Chief of Bifalone, walks along the perimeter of his groundnut and cassava field while it is being delineated. 

Photo 3 : Raissa Njundiyimun conducts a survey with a farmer in Bifalone.

Photo 4 : Vivann, a farmer from Akontange, walks the perimeter of her cocoa field while it is being delineated.