The Challenges of Women in Participating in the Management of the Rainforest of Buea Municipality, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Abstract

The incorporation of women in the sustainable management and conservation of the natural resources on which they rely, illegal deforestation and other degrading practices may decrease, as local people have vested interests in forest resources to remain abundant in their local communities. The inclusion of women in the management of rainforest resources in Cameroon has not been effective enough. The reason for which this study is aimed at evaluating the challenges of women in the rainforest management programs in Buea municipality. The research data collection was done by administering two hundred and fifty questionnaires to a randomly selected population of women in the study area. The results revealed that women’s education has a positive correlation on the challenges faced by the women in rainforest management (R² = 0.674, P<0.05). Also, the study has shown a significant association between profession and women’s contribution to the management of rainforest (X² = 36.893 df=6, P<0.05). Moreover, the women’s educational level has shown a significant relationship to their contribution in the management of rainforest (X² = 10.964 df=4, P<0.05). Age category has shown a significant link on the women’s reason for managing the rainforest (X² = 22.952 df=4, P<0.05). Inaddition, the study has shown that the main reason women manage the rainforest in Buea municipality is for protection 62.55%. Moreover, a respondent score of 50.20% is recorded on women’s lack of interest in rainforest management participation.  Furthermore, a respondent score of 32.67% is recorded on the strenuous rainforest conservation work programs. The incorporation of women at the level of community-based conservation programs would strengthen local governments, empower the poor, and reduce local conflicts through better rule compliance and cooperation.

Keywords: Sustainable management, Conservation, Deforestation, Rainforest, Women, education