Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A quantitative ethnobotanical approach toward biodiversity conservation of useful woody species in Wari-Maro forest reserve (Benin, West Africa)

  • Published:
Environment, Development and Sustainability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quantitative ethnobotany researches can contribute much to guide biodiversity conservation, especially in developing countries. Our study presents a step-by-step approach to identify priority species for local conservation of useful woody species. The presented approach includes (1) an investigation of the popularity and versatility of woody species in the local people, (2) an estimation of the ecological availability of useful tree species in the forest and (3) identification of local priority species for conservation. We focused the study on the Wari-Maro forest reserve in the Sudanian zone of Benin as an example to implement such approach and identify useful priority species for sustainable conservation and management strategies development. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with people in surrounding villages of the forest composed by different sociocultural groups. Floristic vegetation surveys were performed within the forest to assess the local ecological availability of used woody species. A principal component analysis was performed to analyze the versatility, the popularity and the ecological availability of species. Spearman’s correlation test was used to assess relation between variables. In total, 79 woody species were reported for seven main types of uses: technology, construction, medicinal, veterinary, food, forage and energy. Among them, 35 were most popular and versatile, and 3 were characterized as priorities for conservation especially regarding their less availability and more versatility. We discussed the used approach by the underlining importance of integrating wood uses or multiples uses in conservation priorities setting and conservation decision-making of useful woody tree species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adomou, C. A., Agbani, O. P., & Sinsin, B. (2011). Plants. In: P. S. Neuenschwander, B. Sinsin, G. Goergen (Eds.), Protection de la nature en Afrique de l’Ouest: Une liste rouge pour le Bénin. Nature Conservation in West Africa: Red List for Benin. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, p. 365.

  • Albuquerque, U. P. (2006). Re-examining hypotheses concerning the use and knowledge of medicinal plants: A study in the Caatinga vegetation of NE Brazil. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2, 30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albuquerque, U. P., & Hanazaki, N. (2009). Five problems in current ethnobotanical research—and some suggestions for strengthening them. Human Ecology, 37, 653–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albuquerque, U. P., Araujo, T. A. S., Ramos, M. A., do Nascimento, V. T., de Lucena, R. F. P., Monteiro, J. M., et al. (2009). How ethnobotany can aid biodiversity conservation: Reflections on investigations in the semi-arid region of NE Brazil. Biodiversity Conservation, 18, 127–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albuquerque, U. P., Soldati, G. T., Sieber, S. S., Medeiros, P. M., Caetano de Sa, J., & de Souza, L. C. (2011). Rapid ethnobotanical diagnosis of the Fulni-ô Indigenous lands (NE Brazil): Floristic survey and local conservation priorities for medicinal plants. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 13, 277–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amusa, T. O., Jimoh, S. O., Aridanzi, P., & Haruna, M. (2010). Ethnobotany and Conservation of Plant Resources of Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria. Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 8, 181–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assogbadjo, A. E., Kyndt, T., Chadare, F. J., Sinsin, B., Gheysen, G., Eyog-Matig, O., et al. (2009). Genetic fingerprinting using AFLP cannot distinguish traditionally classified baobab morphotypes. Agroforestry Systems, 75, 157–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnham, B. L., Coomes, O. T., & Takasaki, Y. (1999). Rain forest livelihoods: Income generation, household wealth and forest use. Unasylva, 198(50), 34–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, B. C., & Prance, G. T. (2000). Introduced Plants in the Indigenous Pharmacopoeia of Northern South America. Economic Botany, 54(1), 90–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat, R., Karim, A. A., & Tongkat, A. (2010). A review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance. Fitoterapia, 81, 669–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brehm, J. M., Maxted, N., Martins-Loução, M. A., & Ford-Lloyd, B. V. (2010). New approaches for establishing conservation priorities for socio-economically important plant species. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19, 2715–2740.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, K. W., & Lau, Y. H. (2006). The skill acquisition process relative to ethnobotanical methods. Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 4, 115–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, N., Hales, J. D., Underwood, E., Dinerstein, E., Olson, D., Itoua, I., et al. (2004). Terrestrial ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A conservation assessment.

  • CBD. (1994). Convention on biological diversity. Châtelaine, Switzerland, Interim Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity: Text and annexes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadare, F. J., Hounhouigan, J. D., Linnemann, A. R., Nout, M. J. R., & Van Boekel, M. A. J. S. (2008). Indigenous knowledge and processing of Adansonia digitata L. food products in Benin. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 47(4), 338–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha, L. V. F. C., & Albuquerque, U. P. (2006). Quantitative ethnobotany in an atlantic forest fragment of Northeastern Brazil—implications to conservation. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 114, 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, A. B. (1993). African medicinal plants: Setting priorities at the interface between conservation and primary healthcare. People and plants working paper 1. Paris: UNESCO.

  • Dhar, U., Rawal, R. S., & Upreti, J. (2000). Setting priorities for conservation of medicinal plants—A case study in the Indian Himalaya. Biological Conservation, 95, 57–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fandohan, B., Assogbadjo, A. E., Glèlè Kakaï, R., Kyndt, T., & Sinsin, B. (2011). Quantitative morphological descriptors confirm traditionally classified morphotypes of Tamarindus indica L. fruits. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 58, 299–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO. (2010). Evaluation des ressources forestieres mondiales (p. 54). Rome: Rapport National BÉNIN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, L. (2003). The conservation of Chinese rice biodiversity: Genetic erosion, ethnobotany and prospects. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 50(1), 17–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gavin, C. M., & Anderson, G. J. (2007). Socioeconomic predictors of forest use values in the Peruvian Amazon: A potential tool for biodiversity conservation. Ecological Economics, 60, 752–762.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gbaï, I., Vodounou, J. B. & Houndagba, C. J. (2011). La dynamique liée aux effets des activités agricoles sur les écosystèmes dans le bassin supérieur de la Sô au Bénin. Actes du 3eme Colloque des sciences, cultures et Technologies de l’UAC-Bénin.

  • Glèlè Kakaï, R., & Sinsin, B. (2009). Structural description of two Isoberlinia dominated vegetation types in the Wari-Maro Forest Reserve (Benin). South African Journal Botany, 75, 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guèze, M., Luz, A. C., Paneque-Gálvez, J., Macía, M. J., Orta-Martínez, M., Pino, J., et al. (2014). Are ecologically important tree species the most useful? A case study from indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon. Economic Botany, 68, 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houehanou, T. D., Assogbadjo, A. E., Glèlè, Kakaï R., Houinato, M., & Sinsin, B. (2011). Valuation of local preferred uses and traditional ecological knowledge in relation to three multipurpose tree species in Benin (West Africa). Forest Policy and Economics, 13, 554–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houehanou, T. D., Glèlè Kakaï, R. L., Assogbadjo, A. E., Kindomihou, V., Houinato, M., Wittig, R., et al. (2013). Change in the woody floristic composition, diversity and structure from protected to unprotected savannahs in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Benin, West Africa). African Journal of Ecology, 51, 358–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houinato, M., & Sinsin, B. (2002). Analyse phytogéographique de la région des Monts Kouffé au Bénin. Systematics and Geography of Plants, 71(1), 889–910.

    Google Scholar 

  • INSAE. (2016). Rapport du Quatrième Recensement Général de la Population et de l´Habitation. Bénin.

  • IUCN. (2012). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1, Second ed. Gland.

  • Kala, C. P., Farooquee, N. A., & Dhar, U. (2004). Priorization of medicinal plants on the basis of available knowledge, existing practices and use value status in Uttaranchal, Índia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 13, 453–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen, M., & Balslev, H. (2003). Perceptions, use and availability of woody plants among the Gourounsi in Burkina Faso. Biodiversity and Conservation, 12, 1715–1739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucena, R. F. P., Medeiros, P. M., Araujo, E. L., Alves, A. G. C., & Albuquerque, U. P. (2012). The ecological apparency hypothesis and the importance of useful plants in rural communities from Northeastern Brazil: An assessment based on use value. Journal of Environmental Management, 96, 106–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lykke, A. M. (2000). Local perceptions of vegetation change and priorities for conservation of woody-savanna vegetation in Senegal. Journal of Environmental Management, 59, 107–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, R. L. C., Lins Neto, E. M. F., Araujo, E. L., & Albuquerque, U. P. (2007). Conservation priorities and population structure of woody medicinal plants in an area of Caatinga vegetation (Pernambuco state, NE Brazil). Environnement Monitoring Assessessment, 132, 189–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, O., & Gentry, A. H. (1993). The useful plants of Tambopata, Peru: Additional hypothesis testing in quantitative ethnobotany. Economy Botany, 47, 33–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reitsma, J. M. (1988). Forest Vegetation in Gabon. Tropenbos Technical Series 1. The Netherlands, p. 142.

  • Rossato, S. C., Leitão, Filho H., & Begossi, A. (1999). Ethnobotany of caiçaras of the Atlantic Forest coast (Brazil). Economic Botany, 53, 387–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sagar, R., Raghubanshi, A. S., & Singh, J. S. (2003). Tree species composition, dispersion and diversity along a disturbance gradient in a dry tropical forest region of India. Forest Ecology and Management, 186, 61–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Azofeita, G. A., Quesada, M., & Rodriguez, J. P. (2005). Research priorities for neotropical dry forests. Biotropica, 37(4), 477–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sop, T. K., Oldeland, J., Bognounou, F., Schmiedel, U., & Thiombiano, A. (2012). Ethnobotanical knowledge and valuation of woody plants species: A comparative analysis of three ethnic groups from the sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14, 627–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabuti, J. R. S. (2007). The uses, local perceptions and ecological status of 16 woody species of Gadumire Sub-county, Uganda. Biodiversity Conservation, 16, 1901–1915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tardío, J., & Pardo-de-Santayana, M. (2008). Cultural importance indices: A comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Southern Cantabria (Northern Spain). Economic Botany, 62(1), 24–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tchibozo, E. A. (2014). Landscape characterization and modeling degradation by fragmentation of plant formations: Case of Ketu and Dogo classified forest (East Center of Benin). International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 3(12), 18238–18251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ticktin, T. (2004). The ecological implications of harvesting non-timber forest products. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 11–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torre-Cuadros, M. L. A., & Isabelle, G. A. (2003). Traditional ecological knowledge and use of vegetation in southeastern Mexico: A case study from Solferino. Biodiversity Conservation, 12, 2455–2476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Andel, T. R., Croft, S., van Loon, E. E., Quiroz, D., Towns, A. M., & Raes, N. (2015). Prioritizing West African medicinal plants for conservation and sustainable extraction studies based on market surveys and species distribution models. Biological Conservation, 181, 173–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandermeer, J., & Perfecto, I. (1995). Breakfast of biodiversity: The truth about rainforest destruction (p. 185). Oakland: Food First Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vodounou, J.-B. K., Akoegninou, A., & Tchamie, T. T. K. (2011). Dynamique de l’occupation du sol dans le bassin de la rivière Sô au Bénin. Revue Scientifique en Environnement, 7, 81–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weckerle, C. S., Cabras, S., Castellanos, M. E., & Leonti, M. (2011). Quantitative methods in ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology: Considering the overall flora—Hypothesis testing for over- and underused plant families with the Bayesian approach. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 137, 837–843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, F. (1983). The vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/Aetfat/Unso vegetation map of Africa UNESCO. Natural Resources Research, 20, 1–356.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaoitcha, A. S., Houehanou, T. D., Fandohan, A. B., & Houinato, M. R. B. (2015). Prioritization of useful medicinal tree species for conservation in Wari-Maro Forest Reserve in Benin: A multivariate analysis approach. Forest Policy and Economics, 61, 135–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zizka, A., Thiombiano, A., Dressler, S., Nacoulma, B. M. I., Ouédraogo, A., Ouédraogo, I., et al. (2015). Traditional plant use in Burkina Faso (West Africa): A national-scale analysis with focus on traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 11, 9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the International Foundation for Science (IFS) through a research Grant (N°D/5449-1) provided to Thierry D. Houehanou. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through Georg Forster Research Fellowship (HERMES) Ref 3.4—BEN—1163520—GFHERMES-P provided to Thierry D. Houehanou is thanked for its support to complete this manuscript writing. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their comments, and local people living around the Wari-Maro forest reserve.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Faculté des sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin

    Carlos C. Ahoyo, Thierry D. Houehanou, Alain S. Yaoitcha, Achille E. Assogbadjo, Christian S. G. Adjahossou & Marcel R. B. Houinato

  2. Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou (FA/UP), PO Box 123, Parakou, Republic of Benin

    Thierry D. Houehanou

  3. Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations Forestières, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Republic of Benin

    Thierry D. Houehanou & Achille E. Assogbadjo

  4. Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin, 01 BP 884, Cotonou, Republic of Benin

    Alain S. Yaoitcha

  5. Institute for Systematic Botany, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 16, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Thierry D. Houehanou, Kathleen Prinz & Frank Hellwig

Authors
  1. Carlos C. Ahoyo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thierry D. Houehanou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alain S. Yaoitcha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kathleen Prinz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Achille E. Assogbadjo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Christian S. G. Adjahossou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Frank Hellwig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Marcel R. B. Houinato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thierry D. Houehanou.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ahoyo, C.C., Houehanou, T.D., Yaoitcha, A.S. et al. A quantitative ethnobotanical approach toward biodiversity conservation of useful woody species in Wari-Maro forest reserve (Benin, West Africa). Environ Dev Sustain 20, 2301–2320 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-9990-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-9990-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation