Four new threatened species of Rinorea (Violaceae), treelets from the forests of Cameroon

SummaryFour species of Rinorea are described as new to science; all four species are endemic to evergreen rain forest in Cameroon. Rinorea villiersii Achound. and R. amietii Achound are placed in Rinorea [unranked] Crassiflorae M.Brandt, while, R. dewildei Achound. and R. faurei Achound. fall in Rinorea [unranked] Dentatae Engl. The first species appears to be endemic to the Solé Forest Reserve northeast of Yabassi in Littoral Region. The second and the third species are found mainly in Littoral and South Regions, R. amietii extending to South West Region and R. dewildei extending to Central Region. The fourth species, R. faurei is an endemic of the Santchou Forest Reserve at the foot of Dschang Plateau in West Region. The taxonomic affinities of the four species are discussed, illustrations and a distribution map are provided, and their conservation status is assessed. All four species are threatened with extinction according to the 2012 IUCN categories and criteria.

The socio-economic difference in the prevalence and treatment of diarrheal disease in children under five years across the geo-political zones in Nigeria

Background Diarrhoeal disease is one of the leading causes of mortality among under-5 children globally and affects the low socio-economic population. Objectives This study aimed at evaluating the socioeconomic differences in the prevalence and its effect on the treatment of diarrheal disease in children in the different geopolitical zone in Nigeria. Methods Data of children under-5 from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) was used. A total of 30,068 women, that had at least a child under-5 year of age and answered diarrhoea specific questions were analysed for the prevalence, while data on 3885 children that reported symptoms of diarrhoea during the 2 weeks preceding the NDHS survey interview were analysed for treatment intervention offered during diarrhoea episodes. Logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic factors were used to study the association. Results The overall prevalence of diarrhoea was 12.9% with the highest prevalence in the North East (24.7%), among the poor (17.1%) and the children of uneducated mothers (16.4%). Compared to South-West region, children in North-East (AOR 4.64, 95% CI 3.90, 5.51), North-West (AOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.97, 2.78) and North Central (AOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.69, 2.42) had a high likelihood of having diarrhoea. Children from a poor household (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.31, 1.70) had more chance of having diarrhoea. Children in North-East (AOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.49, 3.01) and North-West (AOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.77, 3.60) were more likely to receive treatment in a health care facility and also had less likely to receive more amount of drink and food during diarrhoea compared to South-West region. Conclusions Diarrhoea prevalence is high in Nigeria with significant regional difference both in the prevalence and treatment of diarrheal disease which is also associated with household socio-economic status.

Isolation and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Acetic Acid Bacteria Playing a Lead Role in the Fermentation of Cocoa in Fako Division of Cameroon

Heaps of cocoa beans and mucilage placed within plantain leaves in Ekona, Fako Division of the South West Region of Cameroon was studied to isolate and identify bacteria playing a lead role during natural fermentation process. All experiments were performed at JP Johnson Biotechnology Laboratory at IRAD Ekona, Fako Division, South West Region, Cameroon between March – October, 2020. Heaps of 10kg were placed on and covered with plantain leaves and allowed to ferment naturally. Before every sample was collected the temperature and pH were measured. Samples were inoculated into de Mann Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar and Caar agar for the isolation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) respectively. Standard microbiological procedures for obtaining bacteria counts and isolation of pure cultures were performed and isolated bacteria were identified following morphological and phenotypic characterization on API50CHL for LAB and Enrichment Media for AAB. The fermentation temperature rose to 45oC after 4 days while the pH fluctuated with a peak at 4.82 after 108 hours. Maximum counts of Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB) (5.8x108 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/ mL) and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) (8.9x8x108 (CFU)/mL were obtained at 2 days and 5 days respectively. Twelve isolates each of AAB and LAB were identified on growth media. After phenotypic characterization, 03 Lactobacillus species and 02 Acetobacter species were identified. The most abundant bacteria were L. plantarum (41.77%) and Acetobacter tropicalis (24.11%) on MRS agar and Caar Agar respectively.L. plantarum and A. tropicalis have been identified as the bacteria playing a lead role in the fermentation of cocoa in Fako Division of the South West Region of Cameroon. These organisms may be used as good candidates in a consortium for use as a starter culture.

Aspects about the Environmental Quality Assessment in Urban Areas by Applying Multi-Criteria Analysis Methods

The aim of this paper is to make an assessment of the quality of the environment in urban areas based on multi-criteria analysis methods. Three important aspects of the quality of the environment in urban areas are considered in this paper, and an integrated AHP-SAW method is used to assess the quality of the environment. An indicator associated with the quality of the urban environment is proposed. This indicator is used to make a hierarcy of the environmental quality of an urban area over two periods of time. For the case study a city from the south - west region of Romania is chosen.

The Impact of Performance Based Budget (Pbb) on Projects Effectiveness, Quality and Sustainability in Fako and Meme Divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon

The study examined the impact of performance based budget on projects effectiveness, quality and sustainability in Fako and Meme Divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon. Three specific objectives were formulated to guide this study. The objectives investigated the impact of performance based budget on the effectiveness of projects, the impact of performance based budget on the quality of projects and the impact of performance based budget on the sustainability of projects. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The sample of this study was made up 420 respondents comprising of service providers, beneficiaries of the projects and staff of the Regional Delegation of Water and Energy and the Regional Delegation of Public Works in Fako and Meme Divisions. A well validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and dependent t-test. Findings revealed that there exist a significant difference in the quality of roads, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget with the quality of roads higher after the full implementation than before the implementation of PBB. There exist a significant difference in the effectiveness of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of water projects, and there exist a significant difference in the sustainability of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget. The study recommended that the effectiveness of the budgetary system should be improved so that the quality and sustainability of projects will be obtained. Moreover, good budget begets good results.

Algerian Argan: Biodiversity, ecological services, and landscapes: A review

The Argan is a multipurpose tree, endemic of South-west of Morocco and Algeria. It populates the Sahara and gives it a very particular physiognomy which is that of the sparse forest. The argan forest is a patchwork of species occupying distinct environmental niches across the Hamada of the South-west region of Algeria. It covers a region characterized by the aridity of the climate and extreme xericity with geological and pedological diversity that are the source of the broad range of magnificent landscapes (Hamada, wet-lands, escarpments, wadis, Regs, mountains). The association of plants with landscapes, reveals an environmental heterogeneity influencing the richness in species and allowing a dynamic and development of a diversified floristic cover mainly xerophilic and thermophilic. The originality of its flora is as-cribed to the presence of Saharo-sindian elements, Mediterranean and en-demic. This particular diversity is due to its biological characterization, sys-tematic and phytogeographic. Unfortunately, this ecosystem and its poten-tial for biological resources are today highly threatened and face degradation from disturbances and uncontrolled exploitation of the plant environment by anthropogenic activities, that requires the development of a preservation strategy. Our work emphasizes the importance of this genetic heritage and its original ecosystem, where the preservation must be secured through the establishment of a strict protection system of species throughout their natu-ral range.

Sustainability Implications of Stakeholders’ Perspectives in Agroforestry Management in Manyu Division, South West Region Cameroon.

Agroforestry which focuses on the domestication and cultivation of Non-Traditional Forest Products (NTFP) has important sustainability implications for both livelihoods. Brundtland Report and subsequent international and regional instruments, sustainable development as epitomized in Agenda 2030 of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has become the cornerstone of developmentalism. This study seeks to examine the interplay of sustainability from a stakeholders’ perspective. The findings of this qualitative method which was conducted in 11 villages in Manyu Division of the South West Region revealed that there was a plethora of stakeholders involved in the domain of agroforestry in the study area. These stakeholders were composed of state institutions (Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife-MINFOF, Program for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the South West Region-PSMNR-SWR), international organisations (World Agroforestry Center-ICRAF, the World Wildlife Fund-WWF) and local community based institutions (EFOKHOYU), among others. Agroforestry related programmes implemented by these stakeholders ranged from the creation of training centers, allocation of funds and seedlings to farmers as well as the dissemination of knowledge on land conservation and the development of partnerships among farming communities. The findings revealed that this could be felt at the level of household food security with increased cultivation of species such as Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombulu by nearly 62%. Such high rates of domestication and commercialisation of these species implied that the livelihoods of local farmers were assured without endangering over-exploitation of scarce forest resources. In conclusion, some challenges such as issues related with accessibility, high cost associated with domestication among others complicate the activities of stakeholders in Manyu Division. That notwithstanding, the study recommends that tailor made policy interventions should be deployed to address the challenges raised.