This section presents the topic and the study. In chapter one the research is introduced
with the assumption that governance arrangements in non-timber forest
product (NTFPs) value chains originating in Cameroon influence sustainable livelihoods
of actors involved in these chains. The scene is set by introducing the main
components of this postulation: the forest and its products, value chains, livelihoods
and governance. Unpacking these further, links emerge between forests and their
products (with a focus on non-timber products), the people involved and the places
that these chains emerge from and travel through. A review of these major themes
serves to introduce the research arena. The research objectives and questions are
then presented. This paves the way for an elaboration of the conceptual orientations
underpinning this research in Chapter two. Here the relevance of concepts on sustainable
livelihoods, forest product values, governance, institutions and value
chains are explained and linked. The research design and methodology is described
in Chapter three. The choice of subjects (chains, geographic regions and actors) and
multiple, mixed methods (interviews, observation and participatory action research,
literature review, market surveys and information systems, trade data analysis, action
research, botanic inventories and assessments) to answer the research questions
are described and their limitations are discussed.