Assessing Variations in the Level of Fuelwood Exploitation Across Mangrove Blocks Along the Cameroon Coastline

Abstract

Mangrove forests are ecologically and socioeconomically important coastal ecosystems that provide fuelwood, support fisheries, sustain local livelihoods, sequester carbon, and protect shorelines against erosion and flooding. However, increasing human population, expanding commercial activities, and dependence on traditional biomass energy threaten their sustainability. Along the Cameroon coastline, fuelwood exploitation varies spatially across mangrove blocks, yet the relationship between exploitation intensity, energy consumption patterns, and natural regeneration remains a major concern. This study assessed variations in the levels of fuelwood exploitation across the Rio del Rey, Cameroon Estuary, and Ntem Estuary mangrove blocks along the Cameroon coastline. Specifically, it examined energy sources used by coastal communities, compared exploitation intensity among mangrove blocks, and evaluated the relationship between fuelwood consumption and natural regeneration capacity. A mixed-methods research design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. Data were collected through structured and semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, direct field observations, and measurements of fuelwood stocks. Purposive, stratified, systematic, and simple random sampling techniques were applied. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2007. Results revealed that wood-based energy accounted for 79.43% of recorded energy-source responses, with roundwood representing 64.43%, charcoal 12.56%, and sawdust 2.44%. The Cameroon Estuary exhibited the highest dependence on wood-based energy (87.08%) and the greatest exploitation intensity, accounting for 62.32% of recorded exploitation observations. Under the study's exploitation scenarios, it was classified as the most heavily exploited block, representing 88.52% of recorded cases, compared with 7.88% for Rio del Rey and 3.60% for Ntem Estuary. Estimated annual fuelwood consumption across the three blocks reached 74,991,567 m³, substantially exceeding the estimated annual supply of 6,235,363 m³. The Cameroon Estuary presented the most critical imbalance, with an estimated depletion period of 1.7 years. The study recommends participatory mangrove management, strategic restoration planning, affordable alternative energy sources, fuel-efficient technologies, regulated harvesting, and community-based tree planting to reduce exploitation pressure and enhance long-term mangrove sustainability.