Uses, dynamics and conservation of species in Niayes area, Senegal

Abstract

African National Forest offices are implementing participatory approach for natural resources' management and conservation. Taking into account local knowledge is very important for this approach to be successful. Ethnobotanical information relevant to conservation, use and dynamics of 124 woody species from the shrubby-savanna in North-western Senegal were recorded through factorial (gender, age and ethnic group) interviews with 108 villagers. Data were collected through informed consent structured interviews in a semi-quantitative approach. No significant difference between factors was found unless for sauce use. Close coincidence between species’local conservation priorities and their multipurpose status, particularly edible fruits, was indicated. Four classes of species were identified by principal components analysis confirmed by local priorities and Cultural Importance index (CI). Eleven species addressing directly the most important needs of local people according to 45 to 66% of the interviewees including local fruit trees established the first class. These species provided a CI between 5.5 and 7.7 which is largely higher than those of the following three classes. Numbers of all species were considered by people to be declining mainly due to cutting and ploughing. But the most declining group was that of the class 1. Therefore, any sustainable biodiversity and agrobiodiversity conservation strategy, should try to stop this degradation trend using local preferences as main criterion for selection of species to plant for the well-being of rural population.