No abstract

Biosphere Reserves stand as the worldwide strategy of biological conservation. However, the current global land use change involves extensive loss of vegetation cover around the reserves and increase their vulnerability and their ecological isolation. The overall objective of this study was to assess the trends of land covers change in- and outside the “W” Biosphere Reserve (WBR) in Benin as well as the driving forces of land cover change in order to provide tools for its sustainable management. For this purpose, two serial times of maps from Landsat images TM 1995 and ETM+ 2006 were used to assess the rates and trends of the different land cover units from 1995 to 2006. Socioeconomic surveys based on structured interviews were conducted with 240 households in 8 villages around the reserve. Land clearing, tree logging, settlement and grazing were frequently quoted by the households as main driver forces inducing land cover change around WBR. Probability transition matrices of land cover displayed high probabilities (>0.6) in the southern part of WBR and moderate probabilities (0.3 to 0.5) in the northern part of WBR for woodland and savanna vegetation to be changed into cropland outside the reserve showing the persistence of vegetation degradation around WBR in the coming years. Our study revealed the urgent necessity of the development of conservation action planning to stop the agricultural frontline progression toward the reserve.

No abstract

BackgroundIn addition to plant species biology and ecology, understanding the folk knowledge systems related to the use of plant species and how this knowledge system influences the conservation of plant species is an important issue in the implementation of sustainable strategies of biodiversity conservation programs. This study aimed at providing information on the use and local knowledge variation on Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don a multipurpose tree species widely used in southern Benin.MethodsData was collected through 210 structured interviews. Informants were randomly selected from ten villages. The fidelity level and use value of different plant parts of C. albidum were estimated. The variation in ethnobotanical knowledge was assessed by comparing the use value between ethnic, gender and age groups. In order to assess the use pattern of the different plant parts in folk medicine, a correspondence analysis was carried out on the frequency citation of plant parts.ResultsFour categories of use (food, medicine, firewood and timber) were recorded for C. albidum. With respect to the different plant parts, the fleshy pulp of the African star apple fruit showed high consensus degree as food among the informants. Fifteen diseases were reported to be treated by the different parts of C. albidum in the region. Correspondence analysis revealed the specificity of each part in disease treatment. There was no significant difference among ethnic groups regarding the ethno-botanical use value of C. albidum. However, significant difference existed between genders and among age groups regarding the knowledge of the medical properties of this species.ConclusionsC. albidum is well integrated in the traditional agroforestry system of the southern Benin. Despite its multipurpose character, this species remains underutilized in the region. Considering the current threat of habitat degradation, action is needed in order to ensure the long term survival of the species and local communities’ livelihoods.

This paper presents the experiences of W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) parks in West Africa to improve conservation strategies with the support of partners within a transboundary management system. The W Regional Park and WAP complex conservation, funded respectively by the European Union and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects since 2001, has allowed the development of a technical basis for the transboundary approach and enhanced the effectiveness of protected areas management. This paper outlines the results of these projects including the harmonization of management strategies and the establishment of the regional patrol and biodiversity survey systems which have strengthened threat reduction. An important tool developed through the cooperative management is the establishment and implementation of a regional coordination system that brings together the three countries and all stakeholders involved in WAP protected areas management. A GEF small grant system was also implemented to support rural activities that contribute to biodiversity conservation and improve riparian communities' livelihoods in the WAP complex. The transboundary management of the complex is an experience which provides excellent lessons and deserves to be supported by natural resource funding to ensure the main management objective-the long-term conservation of biodiversity. are area dependent. In this regard, Blanc et al., (2003) reported that in West Africa, the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) transboundary complex shelters more than half of the West African elephant population and argued that the success of transboundary protected area management will increase the success of elephant species conservation.