Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques can be effective means of gathering information about local knowledge and uses of trees. This paper reported the use of transect walks followed by group discussions to identify the numbers of species valued for various functions in eight villages in Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Among other findings, the study revealed the differences between men and women in the species qualities they preferred and in access to tree resources. There were also large differences among villages, which suggested the usefulness of sharing information between communities.