Diversity, pastoral priority and wood preservation rangeland forage in Sudano-Guineana area Benin

• Published in: Biotechnologie, agronomie, société et environnement Vol. 20; no. 2; p. 113
• Main Authors: Sewade, Clement, Azihou, Akomian tune, Fandohan, Adande Belarmain, Houehanou, Thierry Dehouegnon, Houinato, Marcel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Annona; Ficus; Khaya senegalensis; Mangifera indica; Moraceae; Benin; Africa
• ISSN: 1370-6233

Fodder trees are important for livestock survival in dryland Africa. In view of the pressure faced by these trees, and their consequent rarity noted in rangelands, a study was conducted in the Sudano-Guinean transition zone of Benin at the level of the local population surrounding the protected forests of Monts Kouffe, Wari-Maro and Oueme Superieur. This study aimed to inventory the fodder trees, analyze the local perception of factors threatening target fodder trees, according to different sociolinguistic groups and prioritize fodder trees for conservation. Ethnobiological surveys and ecological data from the available literature were used to construct a database following different criteria. The citation rates of the fodder trees by the surveyed populations were used to establish pastoral priority, while their conservation priority was established using a combination of four methods and nine criteria. Forty-eight fodder trees belonging to 17 families dominated by Leguminosae (27.1%) and Moraceae (16.6%) were reported. These species were distributed among 37 genera, with the genus Ficus being the most represented (16.6%). Palatability, species availability and the impact of tree fodder on animal productivity were the criteria used by the surveyed sociolinguistic groups in their selection of fodder trees. The prioritization methods yielded ten top ranked species: Afzelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Khaya senegalensis, Vitellaria paradoxa, Mangifera indica, Ficus platyphylla, Balanites aegyptiaca, Annona senegalensis, Ficus umbellata and Daniellia oliveri. With the aim of establishing the sustainable management of pasture lands, we suggest that priority be given to the aforementioned species of fodder trees as part of restoration, afforestation/reforestation and plantation activities.