Structural and ethnobotanical characterization of velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense willd), a multipurpose tree species

The velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense Willd) is one of the key species for domestication in Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to help the sustainable  management and conservation of this species, its structural characteristics and ethnobotanical traits were studied in the 4 vegetation types (typical  dense forest, degraded dense forest, young fallow and old fallow) of the  Lama forest reserve. A forest inventory was carried out in 100 randomly  selected squared plots of one ha each in the 4 vegetation types. One  rectangular plot of 0.15 ha was set up within each 1 ha plot for their   structural descri ption. Moreover, 10 squared plots of 10 m side were  established on one of the diagonal in each one ha plot in order to estimate regeneration density. An ethnobotanical survey was also carried out among 100 randomly selected people of the Holli, Fon and Adja sociocultural  groups living adjacent to the forest. Results showed that there were   significant differences between the 4 vegetation types according   dendrometric parameters. Stem diameter structure showed a nonnormalshape. Ethnobotanical survey revealed that D. guineense is an agroforestry species and most of ethnobotanical knowledge is held by men of Holli sociocultural group.Key-words: Benin, Dialium guineense, structure, ethnobotany, Lama forest reserve, vegetation types

Structural and ethnobotanical characterization of velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense willd), a multipurpose tree species

The velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense Willd) is one of the key species for domestication in Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to help the sustainable management and conservation of this species, its structural characteristics and ethnobotanical traits were studied in the 4 vegetation types (typical dense forest, degraded dense forest, young fallow and old fallow) of the Lama forest reserve. A forest inventory was carried out in 100 randomly selected squared plots of one ha each in the 4 vegetation types. One rectangular plot of 0.15 ha was set up within each 1 ha plot for their  structural description. Moreover, 10 squared plots of 10 m side were  established on one of the diagonal in each one ha plot in order to  estimate regeneration density. An ethnobotanical survey was also carried out among 100 randomly selected people of the Holli, Fon and Adja sociocultural groups living adjacent to the forest. Results showed that there were significant differences between the 4 vegetation types according dendrometric parameters. Stem diameter structure showed a nonnormal shape. Ethnobotanical survey revealed that D. guineense is an agroforestry species and most of ethnobotanical knowledge is held by men of Holli sociocultural group.Key-words: Benin, Dialium guineense, structure, ethnobotany, Lama forest reserve, vegetation types

Diversité, priorité pastorale et de conservation des ligneux fourragers des terres de parcours en zone soudano-guinéenne du Bénin

Diversity, pastoral and conservation priorities of fodder trees in the Sudano-Guinean pasture lands of Benin. Description of the subject. Fodder trees are important for livestock survival in dryland Africa. In view of the pressure faced by these trees, and their consequent rarity noted in rangelands, a study was conducted in the Sudano-Guinean transition zone of Benin at the level of the local population surrounding the protected forests of Monts Kouffé, Wari-Maro and Ouémé Supérieur. Objectives. This study aimed to inventory the fodder trees, analyze the local perception of factors threatening target fodder trees, according to different sociolinguistic groups and prioritize fodder trees for conservation. Method. Ethnobiological surveys and ecological data from the available literature were used to construct a database following different criteria. The citation rates of the fodder trees by the surveyed populations were used to establish pastoral priority, while their conservation priority was established using a combination of four methods and nine criteria. Results. Forty-eight fodder trees belonging to 17 families dominated by Leguminosae (27.1%) and Moraceae (16.6%) were reported. These species were distributed among 37 genera, with the genus Ficus being the most represented (16.6%). Palatability, species availability and the impact of tree fodder on animal productivity were the criteria used by the surveyed sociolinguistic groups in their selection of fodder trees. The prioritization methods yielded ten top ranked species: Afzelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Khaya senegalensis, Vitellaria paradoxa, Mangifera indica, Ficus platyphylla, Balanites aegyptiaca, Annona senegalensis, Ficus umbellata and Daniellia oliveri. Conclusions. With the aim of establishing the sustainable management of pasture lands, we suggest that priority be given to the aforementioned species of fodder trees as part of restoration, afforestation/reforestation and plantation activities

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers