Non-Timber Forest Products use in the Gazetted Forest of Dogo-Kétou, Benin (West Africa)

Abstract

The role of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for livelihood improvement among local communities and to support forest management has nowadays received increased attention. Although knowledge about the importance of NTFPs is not new, their consideration in the management plans of several protected forests in Benin has been poor. This study aimed at assessing the socio-cultural importance of NTFPs in sustaining livelihood of adjacent local communities to the Dogo-Ketou forest in order to help forest managers to enhance strategies for NTFPs valorisation in this forest management. Data on popular NTFPs were collected through structured interviews administered to 254 households. A total of 78 plant species were harvested by the local people. About 66.53% of households were mostly dependent on Dogo-Ketou forest for medicine, food, firewood and construction. Food use was the NTFPs category of high consensus (ICFFood = 0.98). Khaya senegalensis (RFC = 0.73) represented the most important local plant species used for medicinal purposes. High cultural significant index was recorded for Elaeis guineensis (CSI = 33.81). NTFPs harvest was significantly influenced by households’ size, average monthly income, gender and distance to forest and households’ home (p<0.05). This research suggests key species which can be promoted by the forest managers in order to sustain the adjacent communities’ livelihoods and to enhance their participation in forest conservation.