A study on the Sustainable Use of African Rain Forest

从人类学、动物学、植物学和农业经济学的角度，对刚果、布隆迪、卢旺达、喀麦隆和加蓬的“非洲雨林可持续利用研究”进行了1992 - 1994年三个财政年度的实地调查。这表明在此之前就有耕种者迁移到这一地区，这一证据对了解森林利用的历史很重要。我们调查了人类活动对北方刚果森林的长期影响。在喀麦隆和刚果，我们还调查了这两个地区的民族分布、人口分布、狩猎方式、狩猎主题、狩猎活动频率等。本文收集了人类狩猎对动物影响的资料，观察了布隆迪和卢旺达的森林保护现状，指出了森林保护的结果和主题，调查了各民族直接影响森林利用的社会文化背景。通过对各地区森林资源的传统知识和实际利用情况的研究，为设计一个将森林保护与可持续利用结合起来的联合收割机提供了基础数据。这些数据可用于分析非洲民族科学及其思维方式，特别是他们对自然的看法。在喀麦隆东部，我们研究了非木材森林资源及其价格、产地、分销渠道和七个当地市场的使用情况。我们正在将这些结果输入AFLORA，这是有用的基础数据，可以更明智地管理自然资源，而不砍伐树木。

The field research was conducted for three fiscal years from 1992 to 1994 on the subject of "A study on the Sustain able Use of African Rain Forest" in Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Cameroon and Gabon, from view points of anthropology, zoology, botany and agroeconomy.In the swamp forest in northern Congo, we found a carbonised layr which is considerd as a trace of swidden cultivation 2600 years ago. It suggests a migration of cultivators into this area had taken place before that time, and this evidence is important to understanding the history of forest use.We investigated the long term influence upon the forest caused by human activities in northern Congo. Traditional swidden cultivation for domestic consumption in sparsely populated area can well be sustainable.In Cameroon and Congo, we also investigated the distribution of ethnic groups and their population, as well as the method and the subject of hunting, the freqency of hunting activity in these areas. We collected the data for human impact upon the animals caused by hunting.We observed the present situation of forest conservation in Burundi and Rwanda, then pointed out its result and its subject.We investigated socio-cultural background of each ethnic group which directly influenced their forest uses. We got some of the basic data for designing a model which would enable us to combine the forest conservation with its sustainable use.Traditional knowledge and actual use of forest resources in each area was also studied. This data can be used for analysis of African ethno-science and their ways of thought, in particular their views about nature.In eastern Cameroon, we researched non-timber forest resources and their prices, producing area, distribution channel and use at seven local markets.We are putting these result into AFLORA,which is useful as the basic data for a wiser management of natural reso urces without cutting the trees.