Floristic and structural changes in secondary forests following agricultural disturbances: the case of Lama forest reserve in Southern Benin

Structural changes in secondary forests are less known in West Africa, and this precludes their management. This study aims at providing quantitative information on floristic composition and structure of the Lama secondary forests (Benin), so as to contribute to their restoration, and fill part of knowledge gaps on West African secondary forests. Data of 77 permanent plots each of 0.5 ha were used to analyze the floristic composition, the trajectory of the recovery and the recovery of stocking in these forests, compared to nearby old-growth forests. The results showed that the forests were less diversified with few species very common in the forest stands; the most dominant were Lonchocarpus sericeus and Anogeissus leiocarpa in the secondary forests, and Dialium guineense, Diospyros mespiliformis and Afzelia africana in the old-growth forests. The secondary forests hold more species than the mature ones. Their compositions will recover that of the original forest because species of the original forest were actively regenerating in the secondary forests. About 28 years after recovery, large trees were insufficient and basal area was about 60% of those of the mature forests. Further studies are needed to elucidate barriers to tree regeneration and dynamics of tree population.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Secondary forest, recovery, diversity, species composition, timber stock, Beni

Market structure, trader behaviour and performance of small ruminants marketing in Benin, West Africa

AbstractLivestock markets are characterised by imperfections, distortions, and efficiency problems that impact livestock marketing. The purpose of this research was to analyse the sheep and goat marketing system in Benin using the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) approach. Primary data were collected from 215 small ruminant traders selected from 21 markets to calculate the market concentration degree, marketing margin, and efficiency. The four largest traders’ concentration ratio (CR4) and Hirschman Herfindahl Index (HHI) show that small ruminant markets have an effective competition structure. These markets were unconcentrated, and barriers to entry were nonexistent, except for trading capital. Small ruminants sold in markets differed according to the animal’s body condition, ecotype, age, sex, and coat colour. These attributes and periods of sale are the main factors that influence pricing. Transport costs, animal feed and care costs, transport, and market taxes were the main transaction costs faced by the traders. The total transaction costs per sheep and goats were estimated at 742.7 ± 530.7 XOF and 663.2 ± 463.6 XOF respectively (XOF is a common and official currency of the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. 1 USD = 612,38 XOF). Average marketing margin was 5,869.2 ± 4,357.7 XOF per sheep and 3,851.2 ± 1,597.8 XOF per goat. The marketing efficiency was 78.8% for sheep and 78.9% for goats. This depended significantly on the type of trader, whereby wholesalers were the least efficient. Efficiency, including transaction costs and marketing margins, did not vary significantly between sheep and goats. To improve the efficiency of small ruminant marketing, attention needs to be given to improving the road infrastructure that serves markets and formulating new marketing policies on taxes

sj-docx-1-oag-10.1177_00307270221150659 - Supplemental material for Gender and access to complex and gender-biased agricultural technology information and knowledge: Evidence from smart-valleys in West Africa

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-oag-10.1177_00307270221150659 for Gender and access to complex and gender-biased agricultural technology information and knowledge: Evidence from smart-valleys in West Africa by Florent Mahoukede Kinkingninhoun Medagbe, Anne Floquet, Roch Lambert Mongbo and Kossi Nounagnon Augustin Aoudji, Gaudiose Mujawamariya, Nestor René Ahoyo Adjovi in Outlook on Agriculture</p

CARARACTERÍSTICAS ESTRUCTURALES E IDENTIFICACIÓN DE ESTACIONES FORESTALES EN LA RESERVA FORESTAL DE PAHOU EN EL SUR DE BENÍN

The study was carried out in the Pahou forest reserve in southern Benin as a contribution to sustainable management of this forest. Plant communities’ assessment was made usi ng t he synusi al approach to phytosociology. Soils were characterized according to their pedological profiles and physico-chemical properties. Silvicultural plantations parameters were studied using temporary sample plots of 300 m² each in representative sites of the forest. This study allowed to identify and to describe five phytocoenoses (plant communities). Two hundred and forty-seven (247) species were found in the undergrowth of Acacia auriculiformis plantations in Pahou forest belonging to two hundred and nine (209) genera and seventy-one (71) families. The mean annual increment in diameter and height of the plantations ranged f rom 1. 2 to 3. 1 cm/year and 1. 4 t o 4.2 m/year, respectively, indicating that acacias plantings of Pahou forest are among t he most product i ve i n West Africa. The relationships between ecological factors and productivity of the different plant communities enabled to identif y and map four forest types among which the most productive was represented by the Barteria nigritana – Rauvolfia vomitoria plant community, while the least productive is the biotope supporting Axonopus compressus – Scleria depressa plant community. Recommendations are given on the use of these phytosociological indicators as tools for sustainable forestry management.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe