IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v14y2012i5p627-649.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ethnobotanical knowledge and valuation of woody plants species: a comparative analysis of three ethnic groups from the sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso

Author

Listed:
  • Tene Sop
  • Jens Oldeland
  • Fidèle Bognounou
  • Ute Schmiedel
  • Adjima Thiombiano

Abstract

Local people’s perceptions of plant species are an important source of information on species distribution and rarity, as well as long-term vegetation change. This study involves an ethnobotanical survey and the identification of potential factors that explain differences in the perceptions and valuation of woody plant species in three ethnic groups (Fulani, Mossi and Samo) of the sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso. Some 87 groups of informants from 20 villages were interviewed for this study. A species list of woody plants and their estimated abundance was categorized in terms of their uses: food, medicine, fodder, construction, energy and handicrafts. In addition, the most important species, and those considered a priority for conservation, were identified. A total of 90 woody species were mentioned in the six categories. They were from 64 genera and 32 families and sub-families, of which the Caesalpinioideae, Combretaceae, Mimosoideae and the Capparaceae dominated. In all three ethnic groups, more than 80 % of the reported species were used for energy, 60 % for medicine and 40–50 % for food. Gender was not a determinant of plant use. However, age was found to have an impact on plant knowledge in all three ethnic groups, with older people (over 50 years) reporting significantly more species than younger people (25–50 years): (U = 425, df: 15, 14, z = −4.42, p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in plant use among the three ethnic groups (ANOSIM; R = 0.64, p > 0.001), and this could be explained by differences in culture and local environmental conditions controlling species distribution and availability. Balanites aegyptiaca was the most used species by all three ethnic groups. The most important species and identified conservation priorities, from the informants’ perspective, were similar for all ethnic groups and were mainly food species with a high socioeconomic value: Vitellaria paradoxa, Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica, Parkia biglobosa, Lannea microcarpa and Ziziphus mauritiana. Development projects should incorporate the preferences of local people for certain species as part of the overall strategy for poverty alleviation in Burkina Faso. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Tene Sop & Jens Oldeland & Fidèle Bognounou & Ute Schmiedel & Adjima Thiombiano, 2012. "Ethnobotanical knowledge and valuation of woody plants species: a comparative analysis of three ethnic groups from the sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 627-649, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:14:y:2012:i:5:p:627-649
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-012-9345-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s10668-012-9345-9
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-012-9345-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mengistu Fentahun & Herbert Hager, 2009. "Exploiting locally available resources for food and nutritional security enhancement: wild fruits diversity, potential and state of exploitation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 1(2), pages 207-219, June.
    2. Souleymane Paré & Patrice Savadogo & Mulualem Tigabu & Jean Ouadba & Per Odén, 2010. "Consumptive values and local perception of dry forest decline in Burkina Faso, West Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 277-295, April.
    3. A. Wezel & A. Lykke, 2006. "Woody vegetation change in Sahelian West Africa: evidence from local knowledge," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 553-567, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Carlos C. Ahoyo & Thierry D. Houehanou & Alain S. Yaoitcha & Kathleen Prinz & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Christian S. G. Adjahossou & Frank Hellwig & Marcel R. B. Houinato, 2018. "A quantitative ethnobotanical approach toward biodiversity conservation of useful woody species in Wari-Maro forest reserve (Benin, West Africa)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 2301-2320, October.
    2. Ndayizeye, Gaëlle & Imani, Gerard & Nkengurutse, Jacques & Irampagarikiye, Rosette & Ndihokubwayo, Noël & Niyongabo, Ferdinand & Cuni-Sanchez, Aida, 2020. "Ecosystem services from mountain forests: Local communities’ views in Kibira National Park, Burundi," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    3. Daniel Etongo & Ida Nadia S. Djenontin & Markku Kanninen & Edinam K. Glover, 2017. "Assessing use-values and relative importance of trees for livelihood values and their potentials for environmental protection in Southern Burkina Faso," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1141-1166, August.
    4. Alcade C. Segnon & Enoch G. Achigan-Dako & Orou G. Gaoue & Adam Ahanchédé, 2015. "Farmer’s Knowledge and Perception of Diversified Farming Systems in Sub-Humid and Semi-Arid Areas in Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Cuni-Sanchez, Aida & Pfeifer, Marion & Marchant, Rob & Burgess, Neil D., 2016. "Ethnic and locational differences in ecosystem service values: Insights from the communities in forest islands in the desert," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 42-50.
    6. Sambo Ouédraogo & Oumarou Ouédraogo & Adjima Thiombiano & Joseph I. Boussim, 2023. "The role of Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Delile in the livelihood and local economy in Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso: basis for its conservation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1420-1440, February.
    7. Sarah J. Sterling & Blair Orr, 2014. "Patterns of Tree Distribution within Small Communities of the Sudanian Savanna-Sahel," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Cuni-Sanchez, Aida & Ngute, Alain Senghor K. & Sonké, Bonaventure & Sainge, Moses Nsanyi & Burgess, Neil D. & Klein, Julia A. & Marchant, Rob, 2019. "The importance of livelihood strategy and ethnicity in forest ecosystem services’ perceptions by local communities in north-western Cameroon," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    9. Emmanuel Biara & Anthony Egeru & Sylvanus Mensah & Jenipher Biira Salamula & Mark Marvin Kadigo, 2021. "Socio-economic factors influencing Afzelia africana Sm. use value and traditional knowledge in Uganda: implications for sustainable management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 2261-2278, February.
    10. Bruno E. Lokonon & Essomanda Tchandao Mangamana & Isidore Gnonlonfoun & Téwogbadé Jean Didier Akpona & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Romain Glèlè Kakaï & Brice Sinsin, 2019. "Knowledge, valuation and prioritization of 46 woody species for conservation in agroforestry systems along Ouémé catchment in Benin (West Africa)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 2377-2399, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniel Etongo & Ida Nadia S. Djenontin & Markku Kanninen & Edinam K. Glover, 2017. "Assessing use-values and relative importance of trees for livelihood values and their potentials for environmental protection in Southern Burkina Faso," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1141-1166, August.
    2. Hanjra, Munir A. & Qureshi, M. Ejaz, 2010. "Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 365-377, October.
    3. Seegers, Ronja, 2024. "Wild fruit collection and its impact on household food security in the Luapula Province, Zambia," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Finger, Anne & Badelt, Ole & Dahmen, Kathleen & Heilen, Lydia & Mai, Nora & Seegers, Ronja & Seewald (ed.), Transformationsprozesse in Stadt und Land: Erkenntnisse, Strategien und Zukunftsperspektiven, volume 23, pages 164-183, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    4. Homervergel G. Ong & Young-Dong Kim, 2017. "The role of wild edible plants in household food security among transitioning hunter-gatherers: evidence from the Philippines," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(1), pages 11-24, February.
    5. Friman, Jenny, 2020. "Gendered woodcutting practices and institutional bricolage processes – The case of woodcutting permits in Burkina Faso," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. Bruno E. Lokonon & Essomanda Tchandao Mangamana & Isidore Gnonlonfoun & Téwogbadé Jean Didier Akpona & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Romain Glèlè Kakaï & Brice Sinsin, 2019. "Knowledge, valuation and prioritization of 46 woody species for conservation in agroforestry systems along Ouémé catchment in Benin (West Africa)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 2377-2399, October.
    7. Souleymane Compaoré & Achille Hounkpevi & Issouf Zerbo & Lazare Belemnaba & Kolawolé Valère Salako & Charlemagne Gbemavo & Sylvin Ouedraogo & Adjima Thiombiano, 2022. "Impact of vegetation types on the floristic diversity, the availability and the ecological characteristics of five woody species stands used in the management of hypertension and diabetes in southern ," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 683-700, January.
    8. Souleymane Paré & Patrice Savadogo & Mulualem Tigabu & Jean Ouadba & Per Odén, 2010. "Consumptive values and local perception of dry forest decline in Burkina Faso, West Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 277-295, April.
    9. Stephan Rist & Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, 2006. "Ethnosciences––A step towards the integration of scientific and indigenous forms of knowledge in the management of natural resources for the future," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 467-493, November.
    10. Emmanuel Biara & Anthony Egeru & Sylvanus Mensah & Jenipher Biira Salamula & Mark Marvin Kadigo, 2021. "Socio-economic factors influencing Afzelia africana Sm. use value and traditional knowledge in Uganda: implications for sustainable management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 2261-2278, February.
    11. Chakona, Gamuchirai & Shackleton, Charlie M., 2019. "Food insecurity in South Africa: To what extent can social grants and consumption of wild foods eradicate hunger?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 87-94.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:14:y:2012:i:5:p:627-649. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.