In order to assess both the level of botanical knowledge of the shea tree species possessed by certain communities, and the relative importance of the species to those communities, an inventory has been taken of the different uses of shea resources. To this end, research was conducted involving 257 people belonging to 12 different ethnic groups in seven departments of the north of the Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast]. The results of these investigations clearly demonstrate the socio- economic importance of shea trees to the local populations of the zone investigated. Some ethnic groups prove to have a very good botanical knowledge of the species and its qualities and have developed systems of management of shea orchards that could facilitate the domestication and conservation of the species. In addition to the commercial use of the kernel and of shea butter on local and regional markets, many other parts of the shea tree and derived products (roots, leaves, peels, oilcakes, latexes and even mistletoes are used for a range of different purposes by rural communities in Côte d’Ivoire [the Ivory Coast]. In medicine and in traditional pharmacopeia, these parts are used in the treatment of several diseases. Shea is also valued at the cultural, nutritional, agricultural, cosmetic, artisanal level. Key words: Agroforestry, Ethnobotany, Vitellaria paradoxa, Côte d’Ivoire

The core objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. The ITPGRFA links these goals explicitly to farmers' rights. Although farmers' rights have been debated intensely at international level, their effective implementation at national level remains a major challenge. Community seed banks are good examples of effective implementation of those rights, but have received little attention in scientific literature and policy circles. Case studies in this article from Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, India and Zimbabwe illustrate how this knowledge gap can be filled.

In order to assess both the level of botanical knowledge of the shea tree species possessed by certain communities, and the relative importance of the species to those communities, an inventory has been taken of the different uses of shea resources. To this end, research was conducted involving 257 people belonging to 12 different ethnic groups in seven departments of the north of the Cote d'Ivoire [Ivory Coast]. The results of these investigations clearly demonstrate the socioeconomic importance of shea trees to the local populations of the zone investigated. Some ethnic groups prove to have a very good botanical knowledge of the species and its qualities and have developed systems of management of shea orchards that could facilitate the domestication and conservation of the species. In addition to the commercial use of the kernel and of shea butter on local and regional markets, many other parts of the shea tree and derived products (roots, leaves, peels, oilcakes, latexes and even mistletoes are used for a range of different purposes by rural communities in Cote d’Ivoire [the Ivory Coast]. In medicine and in traditional pharmacopeia, these parts are used in the treatment of several diseases. Shea is also valued at the cultural, nutritional, agricultural, cosmetic, artisanal level.

Chez l'hévéa, la plupart des clones sélectionnés à bas âge, à partir de la combinaison des quatre paramètres physiologiques du latex (Pi, Sac, Exs et R-SH) qui expliquent au mieux la productivité adulte, n'expriment pas l'augmentation de production attendue à l'âge adulte. L'efficacité de prédiction des rendements de ces paramètres pris individuellement a été étudiée, chez les arbres adultes. Des corrélations ont été établies entre la production et les paramètres physiologiques mesurés à un stade précoce de la sélection (CCPE). Des corrélations ont également été établies entre ces mêmes paramètres physiologiques mesurés en CCPE et la production estimée en fin de sélection (CCGE). Le saccharose et le phosphore inorganique ont présenté les meilleures tendances à prédire le potentiel de production à l'âge adulte.

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