The Biosphere Reserve of Pendjari is an example of best management practice of protected areas in West Africa with typical Sudanian savanna vegetation. It is part of the vast and transboundary protected areas of W, Pendjari and Arly National Parks of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. This work provides an overview of the flora of the reserve by means of a thorough botanical inventory. The plant species composition is typical of Sudanian savanna. We recorded 684 plant species, which were distributed among 366 genera and 89 families. The two most species-rich families were Fabaceae (115) and Poaceae (112). The most important life forms were phanerophytes and therophytes. The chorological spectrum was dominated by Sudanian species. With Ipomoea beninensis Akoègninou, Lisowski and Sinsin, Thunbergia atacorensis Akoègninou and Lisowski and Cissus kouandeensis A.Chev., three endemic species of Benin were recorded, demonstrating the importance of the reserve for plant conservation.

Different land uses result in different vegetation condition and macro-fauna distribution in a landscape. Information on land use condition is paramount for development of strategies that enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use. A study was conducted to characterise the vegetation and termite distribution in the three land use types of protected area (PA), harvested woodland (HW) and traditional agriculture (TA) in Salima District, Malawi.Data were collected from 42 plots on tree species, diameter at breast height, regeneration, termite species and abundance. R Statistical package version 3.4.2 and GenStat Release version 14.2 were used for statistical analyses. There was significantly (p< 0.05) higher tree species diversity and stem density in the HW and TA than in the PA, supposedly, due to a positive tree harvesting effect on tree regeneration in the HW and TA as a form of disturbance. The HW and TA showed stable tree population while PA was characterised with an ageing tree population. Highest similsrity on tree species composition was recorded between TA and HW (48%). Regeneration was also significantly higher (p< 0.05) in HW and TA fields than in the PA. Macrotermes natalensis termite species dominated in all land uses with highest density and abundance in TA while Psammotermes allocerus was only found in the HW. We conclude that strict management of forest reserves may not achieve tree diversity; and recommend a 'suite' of management measures to balance conservation and promotion of tree diversity.Integrated pest management approach is proposed to prevent field crop losses due to termites.

Changes in land use type (LUT) are a major driver of biodiversity loss and species decline. Responses to changes in LUT are species-specific, which may in turn be context-dependent.  Understanding such responses is essential for the management of socio-economically important wild tree species. The baobab, Adansonia digitata L., is an important traditional agroforestry tree species in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assesses how LUT affects the demographic and spatial structure of baobab stands. Using data from a census and mapping of baobab trees in 12 plots of 250 m × 250 m each, the study compared baobab tree density, total height and diameter, diameter size-class distribution (SCD), stand stability, and spatial relationships in a strictly protected area (national park), a buffer zone and farmlands (Matéri and Boukombé) in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin. The results show that the highest young and adult tree densities are in farmlands (particularly in Matéri), followed by the buffer zone and the national park. No significant differences in tree diameter and total height of baobab trees were found among the different LUT. The SCD had a reverse J-shape with a better negative slope and population stability metrics in farmlands (particularly in Matéri) but a flattened slope in the buffer zone. The spatial distributions of juvenile and adult baobab trees were random, and independent of each other. The spatial distribution of juvenile and adult baobabs was also independent of the other tree species, irrespective of LUT. It was concluded that baobab conservation is better in farmlands than in the national park but that the difference between park and farmlands may be context-dependent, probably linked to local environmental conditions, the socio-ecological context and interactions with baobab trees.

Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a common multipurpose small tree species of Sudanian and Sudano-Guinean savannahs with high potential for use as fuelwood but little valued in forestry programs. The present study aimed at assessing the current local uses of D. microcarpum, factors determining its use as fuelwood and determine the geographical areas with the socio-cultural groups which is most suitable for its integration into fuelwood programs. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 1074 people selected randomly. Factors determining D. microcarpum use as fuelwood were identified through a binary logistic regression. Factorial Correspondence Analysis established the relationship between socio-cultural groups and the use of D. microcarpum parts or organs. A total of 62.47% of respondents know and use at least part of D. microcarpum. The trunk and branches are the most used organs (35.12%), primarily as fuelwood. The determinants of D. microcarpum use as fuelwood are the phytogeographic district (a proxy for the resource availability), gender, sociolinguistic group, and educational level. D. microcarpum is more used as fuelwood by women. The use of D. microcarpum as fuelwood is more pronounced in about 63% of the national territory. This study confirms the potential of D microcarpum as fuelwood to be promote.

Acacia auriculiformis est la troisième essence à croissance rapide la plus plantée au Bénin. Son bois, initialement destiné à l’énergie domestique, est de plus en plus utilisé comme bois d’œuvre. Ceci pourrait représenter une alternative durable à l’exploitation forestière des aires de conservation et contribuer à la séquestration de carbone. Cette étude avait pour objectif d’évaluer les facteurs qui influencent la production de bois et la séquestration de carbone des plantations de A. auriculiformis au Bénin. Douze plantations jeunes (4-7 ans), d’âge moyen (9-11 ans) et âgées (15-29 ans), réparties sur sols ferrugineux, vertiques, ferrallitiques et sableux dans la zone climatique guinéenne, ont été étudiées. Les paramètres mesurés étaient l’accroissement moyen en diamètre, le diamètre à 1,30 m, la hauteur du fût, la hauteur totale, la proportion de duramen et la proportion de bois sans défaut. La productivité est plus élevée sur sols ferrugineux et ferrallitiques, avec un accroissement moyen de 2,4 cm par an à 6 ans. Cet accroissement est significativement différent entre les arbres jeunes et les arbres âgés. La proportion de bois sans défaut est élevée sur sols ferrugineux. Par ailleurs, la séquestration de carbone est optimale à 20 ans. L’âge optimal pour la production de bois d’œuvre est d’environ 15 ans sur sols ferrugineux au Bénin. Le type de sol est le facteur le plus déterminant pour la production de bois de A. auriculiformis. Les sols ferrugineux représentent approximativement les deux tiers des sols rencontrés au Bénin, laissant présager de bonnes perspectives pour la filière de production de bois de A. auriculiformis. Toutefois, la caractérisation technologique de ce bois sur les différents sols au Bénin est nécessaire pour évaluer ses potentialités physico-mécaniques en bois de service.