A study on the Sustainable Use of African Rain Forest

从1992年到1994年的三个财政年度，我们从人类学、动物学、植物学和农业经济学的角度，在刚果、布隆迪、卢旺达、喀麦隆和加蓬进行了为期三个财政年度的“非洲热带雨林可持续利用研究”。在刚果北部的沼泽林中，我们发现了一层碳化层，被认为是2600年前开垦的痕迹。这表明耕种者在此之前就已经迁徙到这一地区，这一证据对于理解森林利用的历史很重要。我们调查了人类活动对刚果北部森林的长期影响。在喀麦隆和刚果，我们还调查了族群和人口的分布，以及狩猎的方法和主题，以及这些地区狩猎活动的频率。我们收集了狩猎对动物造成的人类影响的数据，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，调查了直接影响其森林利用的各民族的社会文化背景。为设计森林保护与可持续利用相结合的模型提供了一些基础数据，并对各地区森林资源的传统知识和实际利用情况进行了研究。这些数据可以用来分析非洲民族科学和他们的思维方式，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、分销渠道和在7个当地市场的使用情况。我们正在将这些结果输入AFLORA，作为更明智地管理自然资源而不砍伐树木的基础数据。

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.