Folk Classification, Perception, and Preferences of Baobab Products in West Africa: Consequences for Species Conservation and Improvement

Abstract

Folk Classification, Perception, and Preferences of Baobab Products in West Africa: Consequences for Species Conservation and Improvement. The present study is a component of a baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) domestication research program being undertaken in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Senegal. Surveys conducted on a total of 129 women and 281 men of different ages included questions on perceptions and human/cultural meaning of morphological variation, use forms, preferences (desirable/ undesirable traits), and links between traits. Local people in the four countries use 21 criteria to differentiate baobab individuals in situ. According to them, the easier the bark harvesting, the tastier the pulp and leaves; the slimier the pulp, the less tasty it is; the more closely longitudinally marked the fruit capsules, the tastier the pulp. This study shows that farmers are able to use preferred combinations of traits as a guide in collecting germplasm from trees. This can allow the selection of trees that would be candidates for propagation, and planning for a domestication program based on the indigenous knowledge.

Folk Classification of Shea Butter Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. nilotica) Ethno-varieties in Uganda

“…This is concordant with many folk classifications all over the world. For example, Assogbadjo et al (2008) reported the use of morphological classification system for baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in West Africa. Results from similar studies have revealed the critical importance of organoleptic properties of plants in folk classifications (Heinrich 1998, Newmaster et al 2006.…”

Trees in the landscape: towards the promotion and development of traditional and farm forest management in tropical and subtropical regions

“…However, there are concerns for the rapid land-use intensifications that may lead to increasing pressure on the species populations in the future. This is typically similar to other important species in the African landscape such as Adansonia digitata that is subjected to clearing for agricultural expansion and exploitation for other non-timber forest use (Assogbadjo et al 2008;Venter and Witkowski 2013).…”

Ethnobotany and Preliminary Characterization of Traditional Cotton (Gossypium spp.) in Benin

“…In addition, the traditional cotton holders interviewed were classified by socio-ethnic group according to the classification of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis of Benin. Then, by categories of sex and age (man, woman, young, adult, old) from the structure proposed by Assogbadjo et al, (2008). This structure assumes that young people are between the ages of 30 and 40, adults are between the ages of 40 and 50, and the elderly are people who are older than 50.…”