Assessing human pressure on wild food and forage tree species for designing effective conservation actions in West Africa Sahel region

Abstract

Background: High harvesting of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for food and fodder supply leads many tree species to be vulnerable or endangered due to overexploitation. This study aimed to assess harvesting pressure on food and forage species and to understand how the socio-economic profile of people affects their perception on species state as well as on the impact of harvesting methods on species dynamics.Methods: Semi-structured ethnobotanical surveys were conducted near the active stakeholders involved in NTFPs harvesting -children, women, herders, and former actors (old persons >50 years old, both women and herders). Hundred and four (104) people from 4 ethnic groups were interviewed. We have calculated the overharvesting index (OI) based on three pressure parameters: Fidelity level of use (FL), Relative frequency of harvesting (FH) and Relative intensity of pruning (IP). The difference between respondent's perceptions on species state was tested using logistic regression followed by analysis of variance of the model. Results:The overharvesting index (OI) showed that eight (8) species are overharvested of which the first three species are Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir (OI = 122.1%), Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon (OI = 100%) and Lannea microcarpa Engl. & K. Krause (OI = 97.4%). These overharvested species are generally exploited using destructive methods, especially branch pruning for leaves and/or fruits harvesting. Local people´s perception on species state was significantly influenced by the type of actors and their age (p<0.0001 for both). This suggests that specific awareness message considering socio-economic profiles of people need to be developed for a truth conservation impact on the field. 82.3% of respondents declared that harvesting methods have no significant impact on species state, revealing that most people are still using forest resources in traditional considerations.

Resilience strategies of West African pastoralists in response to scarce forage resources

“…Unfortunately, some respondents stated that this practice has already negatively impacted woody populations in the Sahel. In this regard, Hien et al (2021) noted that excessive collection of non-timber forest products for food and fodder renders several species vulnerable. This practice is therefore a contributing factor to plant scarcity.…”

Effet du type d’utilisation des terres sur l’état des populations de Vitex doniana Sweet en zone soudanienne du Burkina Faso

“…Ces dernières ont présenté une structure de distribution en classes de diamètre caractéristique des peuplements perturbés à faible potentiel de régénération. Dans les zones pastorales, le pâturage et les prélèvements d'organes à usage médicinal et alimentaire sont les causes de la dégradation des populations de l'espèce (Sèwadé et al, 2016 ;Hien et al, 2021). L'effet de l'exploitation anarchique des arbres se manifeste par des dégâts de diverses formes dus à l'étêtage, l'émondage intensif, aux coupes et à l'écorçage qui conduisent à la mort des arbres (photos 3).…”

Effects of Ecological Factors on Population Status and Morphological Traits of &lt;i&gt;Faidherbia albida&lt;/i&gt; (Del.) A. Chev. in Burkina Faso

“…F. albida parks being in proximity to habitations and farming hamlets, although the species has a special protection status, is one of the main sources of fuelwood, timber, fodder (fruits and leaves) as well as medicine to treat some diseases. Harvesting for fodder and medicine through partial to total pruning and intensive debarking could be responsible for low seed availability in parklands and disturbance of the species' development cycle [45][46][47]. These uncontrolled practices combined to the difficulties of juveniles growth in parks [19] can be presented as factors contributing to the unstable structure of the species.…”