Résumé
Canarium schweinfurthii is an endemic species in tropical Africa indicative of ancient sites of human occupation. A better understanding of the dynamics of sociocultural and traditional ecological knowledge surrounding this species could contribute to the development of strategies for its sustainable management and conservation in situ and ex situ. To analyze its uses and management practices across forest and savanna zones in Cameroon, focus groups (N = 6) and semi-structured interviews (N = 300) were conducted with seven ethnic groups from six sites. The analysis of the interviews revealed significant variations in the uses and management practices of the species among respondents from different ethnic groups living in the savanna and forest zones, as well as among those from different ethnic groups within the forest. In the savanna, where the fruit is valued for food and trade, participants used non-destructive harvesting practices, preserving the species through maintenance and/or transplantation of wildings. Meanwhile, in forest areas, resin and bark harvesting were carried out regularly and unsustainably, potentially contributing to the degradation of natural stands. Moreover, respondents were unfamiliar with the use of the fruit, and no tree planting or maintenance initiatives were reported in the forest. These results highlight the need to promote participatory domestication as a sustainable management strategy for Canarium schweinfurthii. Such efforts aim to encourage planting initiatives in the savanna, while raising awareness for its conservation among communities in the forest.