Project Update: July 2014
The present study funded by the Rufford Small Grants is planned to be executed from
February 2014 to January 2015 and aims to: document current and potential candidate
woody species involved in forest exploitation; assess population structures of those woody
species identified; undertake seed germination tests of the 10 most threatened species; and
implement awareness, education and sensitisation activities for the key stakeholders by
involving them in conservation efforts of the species identified.
Short report for the first step (February to June)
The assessment of current woody species and potentially candidates
for forest exploitation was carried out with different stakeholders
involving in tree exploitation, shaping and the conservation of woody
resources in Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian zones of Benin. This
study examined the diversity of the woody species used in tree
logging in order to ensure a long lasting management of forestry
resources. We assessed the diversity of current woody species used
in forest exploitation as well as potential candidate woody species in
forest exploitation; determine the criteria underpinning the choice
of the different exploited species; appreciate the level of mastery
of current species technical routes and potentially candidates for
forest exploration.
Milicia excelsa tree in
Sudanian zone
Study sites
The present study was conducted in Benin between 6 °and
12° 50 ' N latitude and 1° and 3 ° 40 ' E longitude. While
covering two biogeographic zones which are: the SudanoGuinean and Sudanian zone. Six cities were investigated:
three (Dassa-Zoume, Bassila, and Parakou) in SudanoGuinean zone and three other (Djougou, Natitingou, Kandi) in
Sudanian zone (Figure 1).
Data collection
Figure 1. Location of study
sites
In total 140 people were surveyed considering different
categories of actors in each biogeographic zone such as
traders, wood, timber industry, loggers, carpenters, sculptors,
nurserymen, NGOs and foresters. Two survey techniques
were used, technical structured interviews and the semistructured interviews.
Results
Current and future diversity of woody species
Twenty-four species were currently exploited in the two regions
for timber, service as well as wood’s arts and sculptures. The
Sudano-Guinean zone has larger diversity of species exploited
with 24 species while the Sudanian zone accounts for seventeen
species. The most represented families are Fabaceae (five
species), Meliaceae (four species), Verbenaceae (three species);
Bombacaceae (two species), Combretaceae and Moraceae (two
species). Moreover, 15 native species are common to both
zones: A. africana, P. erinaceus, K. senegalensis, I. tomentosa I.
doka, D. mespiliformis, A. leiocarpa, B. costatum, M. excelsa, K.
grandifolia, C. siamea, V. doniana, C. pentandra, E.
camaldulensis and D. oliveri.
Antiaris toxicaria tree
Sixteen species are listed as potentially candidate and 13
criteria determined the choice of species used in forest
exploration in studies zones. This study showed a low level of mastery knowledge technical
routes of current and potential candidate species for forestry.
Level of anthropogenic pressure of exploited species
Pressure levels that affect different species occur depending on the position of the species in
the chain of logging resulting in preference level. Four pressure
levels are identified: very high pressure, high pressure, medium
pressure and low pressure.
The first level is observed on the species Pterocarpus erinaceus
perceived as scarce species with six criteria guiding its choice. It is
subject to a very high demand in the national and international
level. The second level is observed on: A. africana, A. toxicaria, I.
doka, I. tomentosa, P. africana. These are highly sought species
on the national market. Another category (third level) is: A.
leiocarpa, B. costatum, C. pentandra, D. mespiliformis, K.
senegalensis, V. paradoxa species are subjected to medium Piece of furniture with P.
pressure. Finally, the species under low pressure (fourth level) erinaceus
are weakly preferred species: A. indica, S. siamea, C. cordifolia,
D. oliveri, E. camaldulensis, K. grandifolia, M. excelsa, P. kotschyi, T. glaucesens, and V.
doniana.
Planning for the next step
Based on species identified, we are planning to investigate their population structure in the
wild and to start with seed germination tests. Awareness, education and sensitisation
activities for the key stakeholders by involving them in conservation efforts of the species
identified will come further.