Local Communities and Protected Areas: Plant Use and Sources Around Niokolo Koba, Senegal's Largest National Park

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation approaches in Africa have often separated human societies from nature, establishing protected areas with restricted resource use and displacing local communities. However, successful conservation and management strategies demand the integration of social and environmental priorities. To this end, we examined the use of woody plants by rural communities around the Niokolo Koba National Park (Senegal). We quantitatively assessed the use and cultural importance of 63 species, identifying their role in livelihoods, evaluating the relevance of communities’ characteristics in plant use, and determining the primary collection sites. Medicine, human food, firewood, and construction materials were the most common uses of plants, while economic, animal food, spiritual-ritual, and cosmetic uses were less frequent. We identified several key multipurpose species with a wide range of uses, while others played important roles for specific applications, primarily traditional medicine and food. Plant use was mainly shaped by the settlement location, the specific collection sites, and how different ethnic groups used these sites differently. Nearly 80% of the species were collected in the surroundings of villages, 25% in the park, and 15% within the villages. Consistently, more plant uses were reported in the surroundings, the park, and villages, in that order. Our results show the current relevance of various species and uses for local livelihoods, as well as the persistent bonds with protected areas. This study provides a foundation for biocultural conservation, sustainable resource use, and the preservation of traditional knowledge amidst rapid societal changes in Senegal.