Bark removal for medicinal use predisposes indigenous forest trees to wood degradation in Zambia

Chungu, Donald; Muimba-Kankolongo, Ambayeba; Roux, Jolanda; Malambo, FM

doi:10.2989/shfj.2007.69.3.4.354

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The outermost, conducting phloem tissues are the parts generally harvested, interrupting the translocation of photosynthates and bereaving roots from nutrients. Because of these multiple factors, the effect of bark removal and the sustainability of different harvesting practices are species-specific, as stated by Chungu et al (2007) and Delvaux et al (2009). Cunningham & Mbenkum (1993) indicated that Prunus africana in Cameroon can achieved complete bark re-growth after ring barking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, <i>Garcinia lucida</i>, as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Guedje¹,

Tchamou²,

Lejoly³

2016

J. App. Bioscience.

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Objectives: There is a huge demand for medicinal bark in developing countries and this demand is growing fast due to it high market values. To assess the effects of bark functions and tree capacities to recover from various debarking practices, a two-year experiment was conducted and several local harvest practices were tested on Garcinia lucida. Methodology and Results: For each practice, 20 healthy trees were selected and harvested. Tree health was monitored every month and the total bark regrowth was calculated using planimetric techniques. In response to bark removal, G. lucida trees produced stilt-roots, sprouts and bark. Re-growth of bark was the most common strategy developed, with mean values ranging from 80 to 100% of trees. All stumps have developed sprouts, with an average number of 6 shoots per stump. The percentage of bark regrowth varies from 45 to 62% of the initial surface debarked for small trees and from 24 to 37% for large trees. A high rate of bark regeneration was found if narrow strips of bark remained on trees, from which bark was hardly removed from wood during harvest, probably characterized physiologically by a downward sap flow due to poor water supply in trees. Conclusions and application of findings:The study has discussed main findings on the experimental debarking of G. lucida and management implications, which would also apply to other species with the same response to bark stripping as source of raw materials for plant-based drug prospects in developing countries. Bark strip harvesting requires species-specific parameters to make it sustainable, taking into account : (i) the bark regeneration capacity (edge growth), which may allow repeated harvest on the same tree; and (ii) the physiological status (downward sap flow) of the tree at the time of harvest, as decisive factor triggering bark regrowth. Partial bark strip harvesting show good prospects for the implementation of long-term sustainable strip harvesting prescriptions, while sustainable stripping through ring-barking practice is unsuitable. Shoot growth and stilt-root development in G. lucida species allows for other management options than strip harvesting, including coppice management and domestication. However, there are major limitations in using

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, <i>Garcinia lucida</i>, as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Guedje¹,

Tchamou²,

Lejoly³

2016

J. App. Bioscience.

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“…Nkeng et al (2010) found that 94% of exploited Prunus africana trees were attacked by insects in Cameroon. Chungu et al (2007) also found that the wood of medicinal trees in Zambia were severely deteriorated after debarking, displaying extensive tissue discoloration, increased insect infestation and profuse gum exudation. However, they found that covering the wound site with mud considerably protected the trees from wood deterioration and insect damage and this constitutes the best and most sustainable bark harvesting prescription for biodiversity conservation.…”

Section: Number Of Stripsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Bark Harvesting Systems of Drimys brasiliensis Miers in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Mariot

Mantovani

Reis

2014

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Drimys brasiliensis Miers, locally known as cataia or casca-de-anta, is a native tree species of the Atlantic Rainforest. Its bark is harvested from natural populations. This study examined the recovery capacity of the bark of D. brasiliensis under different bark harvesting methods, as well as the influence of these approaches on its population dynamics and reproductive biology. While none of these treatments resulted in changes in phenological behavior or the rate of increase of diameter at breast height and tree height, the removal of wider bark strips resulted in lower rates of bark recovery and higher rates of insect attack and diseases. Accordingly, the results recommend using strips of bark 2 cm wide and 2 m long, with 4 cm between strips, for effective rates of bark regrowth and for lower susceptibility to insect attack and diseases. From these studies, we concluded that D. brasiliensis has a high potential for sustainable management of its natural populations, demonstrating the possibility of generating an important supplementary income for farmers and contributing to the use and conservation of the Atlantic Rainforest.

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“…In addition, these 'hot fires' can destroy both seedlings and saplings (van Daalen 1991, Banda et al 2006 and the damage to stems and roots of mature trees, especially shallow rooted trees, can easily enable rot fungi to invade burnt tissues and commence heart rot. Wounds created by fires are further exacerbated by drought conditions (Desprez-Loustau et al 2006) and provide entry points for fungi responsible for heart rot and disease (Roux et al 2004, Chungu et al 2007.…”

Section: Possible Contributing Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Die-back of kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis) in southern Africa: a cause for concern?

Mehl

Geldenhuys

Roux

et al. 2010

Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science

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Pterocarpus angolensis (kiaat) is a well-known southern African tree species of commercial importance that occurs in several vegetation types in the Zambezian regional centre of endemism. The most prominent of these vegetation types are the Zambezian miombo woodland and undifferentiated woodland. A diverse range of ecosystems within these vegetation types necessitate adaptation by tree species to survive extremes of drought, temperature, altitude, soil nutrition and tolerate fire in order to compete with other plant species. There are several reports of a die-back disease of P. angolensis in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, but very little is known regarding the cause or significance of this problem. In this review, we provide details regarding the history of the disease and consider its possible causal agents. A pathology study conducted at three locations in South Africa on diseased and dying trees resulted in the collection of 199 fungal isolates; comprising saprophytic species such as Candida, Penicillium and Humicola, and potentially pathogenic species such as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Cytospora spp. and Fusarium spp. Drought, during several years preceding disease, along with a lack of fire management may have contributed to both the present and past reports of tree die-back and death. Finally, an analysis is made of the importance of the problem and actions that might be taken to alleviate it.

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Bark removal for medicinal use predisposes indigenous forest trees to wood degradation in Zambia

Cited by 17 publications

References 3 publications

Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, <i>Garcinia lucida</i>, as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, <i>Garcinia lucida</i>, as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Bark Harvesting Systems of Drimys brasiliensis Miers in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Die-back of kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis) in southern Africa: a cause for concern?

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