Oil Palm Farmers and Sustainability: Agricultural Practices and Perception of Ecosystem Services in Palm Groves and Adjacent Vegetation Types in Cameroon

The municipality of Ngwei, located in Cameroon’s Congo Basin, reflects the growing tensions between agricultural development and ecosystem conservation. This chapter analyses farmers’ differentiated perceptions of ecosystem services provided by various oil palm systems (elitist, smallholder, and abandoned plantations) and adjacent vegetation types. Using an interdisciplinary approach combining agronomy, ecology, and social sciences, the study classifies farmers into four socio-economic profiles (competent, experienced, advanced beginners, novices) through linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Results indicate that smallholder and abandoned plantations provide a wider range of ecosystem services compared to elitist plantations focused on high economic returns. Perceptions vary significantly depending on farmers’ income, education level, and geographic origin. The study recommends promoting agroforestry systems, restoring abandoned plantations, and tailoring public policies to farmer profiles to support a sustainable agroecological transition.