Value of useful goods and ecosystem services from Agnalavelo sacred forest and their relationships with forest conservation

Abstract

Agnalavelo forest provides necessary natural resources to people who live in its surroundings (Communities of Mahaboboka, Amboronabo and Mikoboka in southwestern Madagascar). The aim of this study is to document goods and ecosystem services provided by Agnalavelo forest to local people and to use it as a tool for the identification of priorities for forest conservation. Oral interviews were undertaken from 2010-2013 with local communities living in the vicinity of Agnalavelo forest. This study also investigated forest resource use, conducted inventories of tree species, estimated wood biovolume, as well as the economic benefits associated with conservation due to carbon storage. Finally, we recorded felled trees caused by honey collection inside the forest and determine the cause for their slaughter. An investigation with the ownership of rice fields irrigated by rivers taking sources from Agnalavelo forest was also conducted. Based on field surveys and analysis, communities living around Agnalavelo forest draw substantial benefits for their daily life from the forest. Goods and ecosystem services are classified in the three categories (provisioning, cultural and regulating services) according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). Cultural services are highly valuable to local people as the forest is a dwelling place for their ancestor's spirits. Agnalavelo forest provides Non Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) such as foods, tools, magic and medicinal plants and fresh water for local people. It is able to store 152 tons of carbon per hectare which is very important for climate regulation in this dry southwestern part of Madagascar. Endemic tree species hosting bee hives are often felled during harvesting period. Agnalavelo forest conservation is very important not only with regards to its biodiversity but also for goods and services that it provides to local population.

The most used medicinal plants by communities in Mahaboboka, Amboronabo, Mikoboka, Southwestern Madagascar

“…In this area, the sub-humid forest of Analavelona is an exception where 403 plant species grouped in 100 families were inventoried and 73% of them are endemic to Madagascar [ 20 ]. Villagers surrounding Analavelona forest and even spirit healer from far away have traditional rights to access to medicinal and magical plants species from the sacred forest following local rules [ 21 ].

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Wild Foods Are Positively Associated with Diet Diversity and Child Growth in a Protected Forest Area of Madagascar

“…The Alandraza-Agnalavelo sacred forest was recently classified as a critically threatened Critically threatened ecosystem [ 74 ]. We previously showed the forest provides 3 types of services to people at local, regional, and national levels, including ecologic, cultural and provisioning services [ 17 ]. This study adds the vitally important service of providing nutritious food to local communities in vulnerable periods of the year.…”

“…Wild food consumption in Madagascar has been studied in relation to both biodiversity losses [ 15 ] and human nutrition [ 16 ]. We previously conducted research in the Agnalavelo forest that showed people seek out 40 wild edible plant species for consumption to mitigate hunger during drought periods, forming the basis of the present study [ 17 ]. This study aimed to examine the association of wild plant and animal species consumption during the hunger season with diet diversity and child growth near the Alandraza-Agnalavelo protected forest in Southwestern Madagascar.…”

Celtis africana Burm. f. Cannabaceae

“…Celtis africana: Used to treat rheumatism (Yineger et al 2008). Celtis africana and Celtis gomphophylla, are used as raw material for medicines in Madagascar, especially for diarrhea and digestive system problems (Randrianarivony et al 2016(Randrianarivony et al , 2017. Celtis australis: Used as blood purifier and tonic (Muhammad et al 2019), as well as against allergies (Ur-Rahman et al 2018).…”