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(ISSN:2581-6853; CODEN: GJNRA9; DOI: 10.33002/nr2581.6853) is an international, scientific double blind peer-reviewed open access journal published 3 times a year online by The Grassroots Institute.
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Coordinated and published by The Grassroots Institute, the Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources (GJNR) is an international journal dedicated to the latest advancements in natural resources throughout the world. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists, social scientists, policy analysts, managers and practitioners (on all academic and professional levels) all over the world to promote, discuss and share various new issues and developments in different arenas of natural resources.
Zambou Zebaze Leila1, Ndjib Rosette Christelle2, Kenne Meli Phalone3, Bitondo Dieudonne4,
Ndoh Mbue Innocent*5
1Center for Research on Medicinal Plant & Traditional Medicine, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaoundé, Cameroon; National Polytechnic School of Douala, Cameroon.
Email: leilazambouz@gmail.com | ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4625-2007
2National Polytechnic School of Douala (NHPSD), University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
Email: phalonemelia@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5860-9853
3Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Email: rosettendjib@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-8266
4Polytechnic School of Douala (NHPSD), University of Douala, Cameroon.
Email: bitondodieudonne@yahoo.fr | ORCID: httsps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4387-2805
5National Polytechnic School of Douala (NHPSD), University of Douala, Cameroon.
Email: innocentmbue@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4481-5220
*Corresponding author
Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(1): 71-101. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
Received: 15 January 2026
Reviewed: 24 March 2026
Provisionally Accepted: 27 March 2026
Revised: 01 April 2026
Finally Accepted: 11 April 2026
Published: 28 April 2026
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are essential to the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, yet their value chains often suffer from inefficiencies, weak quality assurance, and food safety concerns due to unstructured pre- and post-harvest practices and limited market access. This study aims to identify, model, and analyze key factors that can enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of NTFP value chains, providing a structured pathway toward sustainability. A comprehensive literature review and group interviews with 15 experts led to the identification of fifteen critical factors. These were analyzed using an integrated approach combining Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and fuzzy MICMAC analysis. ISM was applied to establish hierarchical relationships and contextual linkages among factors, while fuzzy MICMAC addressed uncertainty in expert judgments and classified variables based on their driving and dependence power into independent, linkage, autonomous, and dependent clusters. The findings reveal that policy-level factors act as primary drivers within the system. Key operational elements, including quality management systems and improved post-harvest processing, were identified as linkage or dependent variables, indicating their strong reliance on foundational conditions. The integrated framework underscores the importance of proactive interventions, particularly strengthening institutional capacity and providing technical training to local communities. Overall, the study offers a practical roadmap for policymakers and practitioners to prioritize investments and transition from inefficient, traditional systems to resilient and sustainable NTFP value chains. It highlights the need to integrate traditional knowledge with modern quality standards and traceability mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability and improved economic outcomes for rural populations.
Non-timber Forest Products; Value chain; Fuzzy MICMAC; Driving and dependence
Leila, Z.Z., Christelle, N.R., Phalone, K.M., Dieudonne, B. and Innocent, N.M. (2026). Enhancing the Quality, Safety, and Efficiency within the Value Chain of Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated ISM-Fuzzy MICMAC Methodology. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(1): 71-101. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
Leila, Z.Z., Christelle, N.R., Phalone, K.M., Dieudonne, B., & Innocent, N.M. (2026). Enhancing the Quality, Safety, and Efficiency within the Value Chain of Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated ISM-Fuzzy MICMAC Methodology. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(1), 71-101. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
Leila Z.Z., Christelle N.R., Phalone K.M., Dieudonne B., Innocent N.M. Enhancing the Quality, Safety, and Efficiency within the Value Chain of Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated ISM-Fuzzy MICMAC Methodology. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 2026, 9 (1), 71-101. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
Leila, Zambou Zebaze, Christelle, Ndjib Rosette, Phalone, Kenne Meli, Dieudonne, Bitondo, Innocent, Ndoh Mbue. 2026. “Enhancing the Quality, Safety, and Efficiency within the Value Chain of Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated ISM-Fuzzy MICMAC Methodology”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9 no. 1: 71-101. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
Leila, Zambou Zebaze, Ndjib Rosette Christelle, Kenne Meli Phalone, Bitondo Dieudonne and Ndoh Mbue Innocent. 2026. “Enhancing the Quality, Safety, and Efficiency within the Value Chain of Non-Timber Forest Products: An Integrated ISM-Fuzzy MICMAC Methodology”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9 (1): 71-101. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104
| Crossref: | https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090104 |
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© 2026 by the author(s). Licensee Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). We allow to freely share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially) with a legal code: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources by The Grassroots Institute is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.grassrootsjournals.org.
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