NTFPs are often presented as a major contributor to livelihoods, as sources of food and cash, particularly for rural communities. There are few data available in Gabon to confirm this common assertion. This study was conducted on 127 households in 14 villages around two timber concessions in the south-eastern and south-western regions of Gabon for a period of one year. Conventional socio‐economic survey tools such as focus group discussions, census and semi-structured interviews with households were used for gathering the data. Results reveal that rural people depend on various sources of food and income for their livelihoods, but overall, the current contribution of NTFPs obtained from plant sources is insignificant compared to those from other activities. Odika (Irvingia gabonensis), ‘atanga sauvage’ (Dacryodes buettneri), fungus (Termitomyces spp.) and Gabon nut (Coula edulis) represent the main forest products commonly harvested by rural people. They are used primarily for subsistence, but the surplus is sold. The results of this study suggest that: (1) the main components of decree No. 137/PR/MEFP of February 4, 2009, that prohibits the logging of five multiple-use tree species over a period of 25 years in order to safeguard the sources of NTFPs, should be reviewed; and (2) state authorities and partners should promote projects aimed at increasing public awareness of the NTFP sector. These projects should include a census of NTFPs (for food, for medicine and for services), characterize their uses and identify the markets of target products as well as the development potential of NTFPs. Such projects could help Gabon and other Congo Basin countries to fix norms/standards for sustainable natural resource management and for enhancing the contribution of NTFPs to the national economy. This will be particularly relevant in the wake of dwindling oil revenues and the need to diversify and promote other revenue sources in the country.

Malaria remains a major cause of illness and death as well as a contributing factor to poverty in tropical and subtropical regions. Ethnobotanical surveys conducted in the periphery of the Ipassa - Biosphere Reserve (Gabon) allowed to identify 61 plant species used by the Baka pygmies, Fang, Kota and Kwélé ethnic groups for the treatment of malaria. These plants are distributed in 55 genera and 34 botanical families. Leaves are among the plant parts that are largely cited (62% of citations), followed by stem barks (17%) and fruits (13%) while decoction (58%) and maceration (35%) are the most cited pharmaceutical forms. These forms are often administered through the vaporation bath (41%), rectal (25%) and oral (23%) voices. Most of the recipes (73%) cited for treating malaria are made of combination of many plant species. Seven plant species that were largely cited by people living in the periphery of the Ipassa Biosphere Reserve are also known in other African countries for the same usages and are confirmed in the literature for their usage against malaria including Alstonia boonei, Carica papaya, Citrus limon, Cymbopogon citratus, Enantia chlorantha, Picralima nitida, Vernonia amygdalina. The fact that some plant species cited are well recognised for their activity against Plasmodium, is a credibility index which can be attributed to the pharmacopoeia of those people on one hand and illustrates the efficiency of the method used to identify medicinal plants of the Makokou Biosphere Reserve on the other hand. Future studies should be directed towards implementing strategies and programmes to identify active chemical substances of other plant species which have not yet been investigated for their chemical and antimalarial activities in the region. Key words: Ethnobotanical surveys, medicinal plants, malaria, recipe, combination of plants, Ipassa-Makokou Biosphere Reserve.

In the Congo Basin region, sustainable management of forests and protected areas is mostly biodiversity oriented while little is known about governance effectiveness of such forest resources, especially in Gabon. This paper assesses available policy, legislations and institutions to enhance the management of Gabonese forests and National Parks resources. Data was gathered through systematic review of literature and policies and face to face interviews of experts in three key institutions. National Parks represent a restrictive conservation strategy adopted by the Gabonese government. Resource harvesting and gathering is prohibited in National Parks boundaries. Identified issues include; little participation of the local communities in forest resource management and poor benefits redistribution among stakeholders. The current policy framework promotes strongly the economic development of the timber sector and biodiversity protection than the rights and livelihoods security of local communities. Several institutions are involved in resources management but their mandates over biodiversity protection tend to overlap, providing possible obstacles to their efficient performance. The establishment of a new type of institutional arrangement for protected areas which would integrate biodiversity protection and secure local people’s livelihoods is therefore needful. Institutional collaboration and communication among these institutions should also be encouraged to avoid the overlap of their mandates. Key words: National Parks, forests, governance effectiveness, policy, legislations, resources management, Gabon.

In the Congo Basin, the economic, social and environmental value of non timber forest products (NTFPs), such as bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is widely acknowledged. However, knowledge of the volumes traded, extent and distribution of revenues along the value chain is limited while little is known about the chain's sustainability. The survey of the value chain was followed by field observations and semistructured interviews with 174 stakeholders in Estuaire, Nyanga and Ngounié provinces of Gabon. Women dominate in the bush mango value chain. Most bush mango sold in urban and rural markets came from neighbouring countries. There is skewed distribution of revenues, with traders and processors earning higher incomes than harvesters. Deforestation, lack of harvesting standards and poor management of resources, according to the stakeholders, represent the main factors threatening the sustainability of the chain. Long-term socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the chain calls for raising the political visibility of the chain, training and collective action. Spanish En la Cuenca del Congo, el valor socio-económico y ambiental de los productos forestales no maderables (PFNM), como el chocolatero del bosque (Irvingia gabonensis) se reconoce ampliamente. El conocimiento de los volúmenes intercambiados, los ingresos generados y su reparto a lo largo de la cadena de valor está limitado, y poca información existe sobre la sostenibilidad de la cadena. La encuesta, seguida de las observaciones en el terreno y de entrevistas semi-estructuradas en 174 actores de la cadena de valor se hizo en las Provincias del Estuario, Nyanga y Ngounié en Gabón. Esta cadena de valor estaba segmentada por sexo, con las mujeres como actores dominantes. Los productos forestales vendidos en los mercados urbanos y rurales provienen principalmente de los países vecinos. Existe un reparto in-igual en los ingresos a lo largo de la cadena, los comerciantes y los transformadores obtienen ingresos más elevados comparables a los colectores. La deforestación, la falta de normas de colecta y la mala gestión de los recursos representan los principales factores que amenazan la sostenibilidad de la cadena. Los puntos clave planteados por las partes interesadas para aumentar la sostenibilidad socioeconómica y ambiental a largo plazo de la cadena incluyen una mayor visibilidad política de la cadena, la domesticación, la capacitación y la acción colectiva. Italian Dans le bassin du Congo, la valeur socio-économique et environnementale des Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux (PFNL), comme la mangue sauvage (Irvingia gabonensis) est largement reconnue. La connaissance des volumes échangés, les revenus générés et leur répartition le long de la chaîne de valeur est cependant limitée, et peu d'informations existent sur la durabilité de la chaîne. L'étude de la chaine de valeur a été suivie d'observations sur le terrain et d'entretiens semi-structurés menés auprès de 174 acteurs dans les provinces de l'Estuaire, Nyanga et Ngounié au Gabon. Cette chaîne de valeur est segmentée par sexe, avec les femmes comme acteurs dominants. Les produits forestiers vendus dans les marchés urbains et ruraux proviennent principalement des pays voisins. On observe une répartition inégale des revenus le long de la chaîne, les commerçants et les transformateurs se procurent les revenus les plus élevés comparativement aux collecteurs. La déforestation, le manque de normes de récolte et la mauvaise gestion des ressources représenteraient selon les acteurs, les principaux facteurs menaçant la durabilité de la chaîne. Les points clés soulignés par les acteurs pour la durabilité socio-économique et environnementale à long terme de la chaîne de l'Odika incluaient le besoin de domestication, une plus grande visibilité politique, de former les acteurs et de conduire des actions collectives.

Widely consumed forest fruits in Gabon were analysed for nutrient and bioactive compositions and their potential contributions to meeting the nutrient requirements of consumers. Edible pulps of Panda oleosa Pierre, Gambeya lacourtiana (De Wild.) Aubrév. & Pellegr. and Poga oleosa Pierre contained substantial amounts of bioactive compounds; flavonoids (13.5–22.8 mg/100 g), proanthocyanins (2.4–7.6 mg/100 g), polyphenols (49.6–77.3 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (6.7–97.7 mg/100 g). The highest content of β-carotene (76.6 µg/100 g) was registered in fruits of Pseudospondias longifolia Engl. The fruits of P. oleosa had the highest essential minerals Fe, Zn and Se. If a child aged 1 to 3 years consumed about 200 g or if a non-lactating and non-pregnant woman consumed 300 g of Panda oleosa, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr., G. lacourtiana, P. longifolia and Poga oleosa, they could obtain substantial DRI ranging between 20–100% for energy, vitamins C and E, iron, magnesium, iron and zinc. Forest fruits can considerably contribute towards the human nutrient requirements. Based on the results of this study, forest foods should be considered in formulating policies governing food and nutrition security in Gabon.

Sustainable management of forest resources in and around national parks continues to be a growing challenge in Gabon. Rural people living close by national parks continue to depend on those forest resources to meet their various livelihoods needs despite strict governmental restriction on access and use of forest resources, especially inside of national parks. Hence, most of these resources are mismanaged and overexploited while innovative mechanisms that would assist parks’ managers in sustainably managing these protected forests are lacking. A semi-structure interview was administrated to 79 sellers that were found in the three local markets located near the Ivindo National Park (INP), in the province of Ogooué Ivindo (Gabon). This survey aimed at clarifying the trade values of most of the popular indigenous fruits and nuts species and the sellers’ perceptions on resource decline for an improved management of resources inside and outside of the Ivindo National Park. From both inside and outside of the park, Coula edulis, Irvingia gabonensis and Dacryodes buettneri tend to be among the most sold wild fruits and nuts according to 82.3, 73.4 and 31.6% of the respondents respectively. I. gabonensis fetches the highest sale price in FCFA and represents the most important income provider to sellers followed by C. edulis and D. buettneri. Since social status of sellers such as marital status and ethnicity appear to be the driving factors to people’s entry to this trade, therefore they need all to be considered as key variables in regulating usages of these traded wild fruits and nuts. Despite the importance of indigenous fruits and nuts as source of income, resource decline have been acknowledged by almost all the sellers. Hence, sellers should be considered as key partners in identifying species in needs of conservation. Among the drivers of resource decline include the impacts of logging companies, climate change (unpredictability of rainfall), and unsustainable harvesting practices of the valued indigenous resources. Sustainable management of these valued indigenous forest resources call for a careful implementation of an innovative mechanism that would regulate demand and assist park managers in managing forest resources in a sustainable manner. Most critically, further studies need to look at the practical approach of setting up quotas based harvesting of these valued indigenous forest resources. Key word: Trade, indigenous fruits and nuts, threatened species, sustainable management, adaptive management, Ivindo National Park, Gabon.