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Informant-based valuation of use and conservation preferences of savanna trees in Burkina Faso

Appréciation fondée sur l’informateur de l’utilisation et de la conservation des lig-neux de savane au Burkina Faso

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Abstract

Use and conservation preferences for woody savanna species among the Gourounsi people in south-central Burkina Faso were investigated using a new informant-based valuation system. Two hundred informants from 10 villages evaluated the importance of 20 preselected woody species for nine different uses: edible fruits, vegetable sauce, construction, firewood, medicine, commerce, field trees, and conservation. The study identified eight key species: Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa, Tamarindus indica, Adansonia digitata, Vitex doniana, Detarium microcarpum, Bom-bax costatum, and Strychnos spinosa. They all had high commercial and nutritional value. The local knowledge about the selected woody species was similar between men and women, and between young and old, but it differed between villages. The results indicate that knowledge erosion does not take place among the Gourounsi, but considerable local differences exist. Conservation management should focus on the key species, and for these, assisted regeneration, tree planting, and further ecological research is recommended.

Resumen

Les préférences d’utilisation et de conservation des ligneux de savane chez les Gourounsi au Centre Sud du Burkina Faso ont été examinées á partir d’une nouvelle approche d’appréciation fondée sur I’informateur. Deux cents informateurs répartis dans 10 villages ont apprécié I’importance de 20 espéces ligneuses, préalablement choisies, pour neuf différents types d’utilisation: fruits comestibles, légume pour la sauce, bois de construction, bois de chauffe, pharmacopée, commerce, arbres de champ et conservation. Huit espéces clés ont été identifiées par la présente étude. Ce sont: Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa, Tamarindus indica, Adansonia digitata, Vitex doniana, Detarium microcarpum, Bom-bax costatum et Strychnos spinosa. Elles ont toutes haute valeur commerciale et nutritionnelle. La connaissances locales des ligneux choisis a été similaire entre femmes et hommes d’une part, et entre jeunes et personnes âgées d’autre part. En revanche, une différence a été notée entre les villages. Les résultats ont révélé en que les Gourounsi n’ont rien perdu de leur connaissance ancienne, mais quelques différences notables existent á l’échelle locale, he aménagement de la conservation devrait se focaliser sur les espéces clís identifiées pour lesquelles une régéneration assistée, une plantation d’arbres et d’autres recherches écologiques sont recommandées.

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  1. Department of Systematic Botany, Institute of Biology, University of Aarhus, 68, DK-8240 Risskov, Nordlandsvej, Denmark

    Metus Kristensen & Anne Mette Lykke

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  1. Metus Kristensen
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  2. Anne Mette Lykke
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Correspondence to Anne Mette Lykke.

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Kristensen, M., Mette Lykke, A. Informant-based valuation of use and conservation preferences of savanna trees in Burkina Faso. Econ Bot 57, 203–217 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0203:IVOUAC]2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0203:IVOUAC]2.0.CO;2

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