Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Fruit trees occupy an important place in the daily life of people in West Africa, but the most valuable species are often overexploited and undergo severe threats. This study focused on three Lannea species (Lannea macrocarpa, Lannea acida, and Lannea velutina) with the aim to assess local ecologica...

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Main Authors: Soumaїla Savadogo, Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma, Anne Mette Lykke, Larba Hubert Balima, Adjima Thiombiano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Trees, Forests and People
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000093
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author Soumaїla Savadogo
Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma
Anne Mette Lykke
Larba Hubert Balima
Adjima Thiombiano
author_facet Soumaїla Savadogo
Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma
Anne Mette Lykke
Larba Hubert Balima
Adjima Thiombiano
author_sort Soumaїla Savadogo
collection DOAJ
description Fruit trees occupy an important place in the daily life of people in West Africa, but the most valuable species are often overexploited and undergo severe threats. This study focused on three Lannea species (Lannea macrocarpa, Lannea acida, and Lannea velutina) with the aim to assess local ecological knowledge on habitats, population dynamics, drivers of degradation and conservation strategies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 576 informants in 16 localities across the Sudanian and the Sudano-Sahelian climatic zones of Burkina Faso. The majority of respondents (86 %) recognize, reduced rainfall is as the primary driver of Lannea velutina population declines in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. In the Sudanian zone, however, more respondents (75 %) identified bushfires as the main threat to Lannea microcarpa and Lannea acida populations. These changes were more reported by women (63 %) than men (55 %), and the Mossi ethnic group exhibited a particularly detailed knowledge of Lannea population dynamics in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. Conservation efforts are largely supported by traditional cultural practices, with cultural bans for the three Lannea species. Assisted natural regeneration is also practiced for Lannea acida and Lannea microcarpa. The findings revealed significant variations in local perceptions of habitat changes and conservation strategies across climate zones, species, and ethnic groups (p< 0.05), but also stress the potential of building on traditional practices in nature management and conservation.
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spelling doaj-art-83c9ff20b6a842929250412656642cf82025-08-20T02:55:10ZengElsevierTrees, Forests and People2666-71932025-03-011910078110.1016/j.tfp.2025.100781Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)Soumaїla Savadogo0Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma1Anne Mette Lykke2Larba Hubert Balima3Adjima Thiombiano4University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, 03 Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Corresponding author.University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, 03 Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoUniversity of Aarhus, Department of Ecoscience, C. F. Møllers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, DenmarkInstitut des Sciences et de Technologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 01 BP 1757, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoUniversity Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, 03 Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoFruit trees occupy an important place in the daily life of people in West Africa, but the most valuable species are often overexploited and undergo severe threats. This study focused on three Lannea species (Lannea macrocarpa, Lannea acida, and Lannea velutina) with the aim to assess local ecological knowledge on habitats, population dynamics, drivers of degradation and conservation strategies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 576 informants in 16 localities across the Sudanian and the Sudano-Sahelian climatic zones of Burkina Faso. The majority of respondents (86 %) recognize, reduced rainfall is as the primary driver of Lannea velutina population declines in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. In the Sudanian zone, however, more respondents (75 %) identified bushfires as the main threat to Lannea microcarpa and Lannea acida populations. These changes were more reported by women (63 %) than men (55 %), and the Mossi ethnic group exhibited a particularly detailed knowledge of Lannea population dynamics in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. Conservation efforts are largely supported by traditional cultural practices, with cultural bans for the three Lannea species. Assisted natural regeneration is also practiced for Lannea acida and Lannea microcarpa. The findings revealed significant variations in local perceptions of habitat changes and conservation strategies across climate zones, species, and ethnic groups (p< 0.05), but also stress the potential of building on traditional practices in nature management and conservation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000093BiodiversityClimatic conditionsEcological factorsFruit treesLanneaSustainable management
spellingShingle Soumaїla Savadogo
Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma
Anne Mette Lykke
Larba Hubert Balima
Adjima Thiombiano
Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
Trees, Forests and People
Biodiversity
Climatic conditions
Ecological factors
Fruit trees
Lannea
Sustainable management
title Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
title_full Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
title_fullStr Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
title_full_unstemmed Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
title_short Local knowledge on population structure and conservation of Lannea species in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
title_sort local knowledge on population structure and conservation of lannea species in burkina faso west africa
topic Biodiversity
Climatic conditions
Ecological factors
Fruit trees
Lannea
Sustainable management
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000093
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