RESUMELa dégradation des habitats naturels des espèces forestière évolue de façon croissance avec l'augmentation de la taille de la population du Bénin. L'objectif de cette étude est de contribuer à la conservation de Nesogordonia kabingaensis qui est l'une des espèces à habitat unique dans le pays. Mots clés : Nesogordonia kabingaensis, menace, savoir endogène, structure, conservation.H. YEDOMONHAN et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 11(5): 2481-2494, 2017 2482 Evaluation of ethnobotanical and structural characteristics of Nesogordonia kabingaensis (K. Schum.) Capuron ex R. Germ. (Sterculiaceae) in the sacred forest of Ewè in Benin in order to define strategies for its conservation
ABSTRACTThe degradation of natural habitats of forest species is evolving in a growing way with the increase of the population size of Benin. The objective of this study is to contribute to the conservation of Nesogordonia kabingaensis which is one of the unique habitat species in the country. Ethnobotanical surveys of 144 people were carried out and the forest parameters of N. kabingaensis were collected in 102 plots of 2500 m 2 (50 x 50 m 2 ) within the sacred forest. The respondents have a good knowledge of the species and 87.50% of them have specific but varied criteria to identify it. In total, 14 types of use were identified and the most cited are: uses as a brush (98.61%), mortar making (55.56%) and the manufacture of roof framing (41. 67%). The average values of the dendrometric parameters are 30.64 cm for the diameter, 26.82 m for the total height, 17.96 m for the barrel height and 5.40 m for the diameter of the vault. The structural parameters are on average 10 stems/ha for the density and 0.76 m 2 /ha for the basal area. Regeneration has 399 stems/ha. Human pressures are on young and mature individuals who are exploited as brush and timber / service respectively. They are so strong that it is necessary to define, in the short term, a strategy for the conservation of in-situ and ex-situ species. This will involve the introduction of N. kabingaensis in agroforestry systems, its use for private plantations and the strengthening of protection measures for its natural habitat.