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LES FORETS ET LES PEUPLES

Pertinence

La forêt a été largement reconnue pour son rôle crucial dans la vie des populations locales particulièrement dans les zones rurales en milieu tropical. Malheureusement les ressources forestières sont menacées par la pression démographique, l’agriculture extensive, le surpâturage, l’urbanisation, les changements climatiques, etc. Pour préserver les conditions de vie des populations locales tout en améliorant l’état des ressources forestières, la recherche innovante s’avère indispensable nécessaire et vise à comprendre les relations entre les forêts et les peuples afin d’en déduire des implications conséquentes de gestion. L’unité des recherches ‘les forêts et les peuples est en conformité avec cette vision et entreprend des investigations sur les stratégies de gestion de la forêt, leur efficacité et leur réplicabilité, les résultats, le processus décisionnel, le partage des avantages, etc. Il est également d’investiguer impacts de l’approche genre des dans les processus et politiques globaux de gestion de la forêt. La réponse à ces interrogations pourrait permettre d’améliorer des politiques de gestion de la forêt, en particulier, pour la répartition équitable des ressources et la distribution des avantages et issus de la forêt. Cette unité de recherches vient également en appui à l’exécution du protocole de NAGOYA en Afrique sub-saharienne.

Centres d’interêt

  • Ethnobotanie;
  • Economie forestière;
  • Gestion de la forêt et Approche genre ;
  • Agroforesterie et agro écologie;
  • Gestion communautaire de la forêt;
  • Connaissances écologiques traditionnelles;
  • Services écosystémiques;
  • Ressources génétiques forestière

Travaux en cours

Homegardens and agro-biodiversity: patterns, opportunities and challenges for sustainable conservation in Benin, West-Africa

Home gardens (HGs) are land use ecosystems, generally adjacent to household or slightly further away but easily accessible. These systems are characterized by small size generally less than 0.5 ha but with important agro-biodiversity. Because of these patterns but also they survive time test, HGs represent valuable perspectives for conservation. Unfortunately, our knowledge on home gardens composition, functioning in agricultural change context is limited and the real potential for conservation of local biodiversity is unassessed in Benin. Thus, this PhD research project aims to the better understanding of the potential of home gardens in agro-biodiversity conservation in special agricultural and cultural context of Benin. Related research questions intended to address (i) the biophysical characterization and typology of HGs, (ii) the seasonal and spatial variation on HGs composition, (iii) the effectiveness of HGs in conservation of local biodiversity, (iv) factors affecting home gardens ownership, diversity and structure (v) ethnobotany and ethnoecology knowledge and maintenance of plant species in HGs and (vi) monetary and non-monetary values of HGs. Findings of this PhD research will provide decision makers and researchers with basic information and directive for the formulation of national strategy of conservation based on home gardens. For more details, contact Castro GBEDOMON

Modelling ethnobotanical value and biomass production of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) in Benin (West Africa)

Moringa oleifera is an agroforestry food plant native to India. It is highly produced and consumed as vegetables in many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Compared to all other vegetables, M. oleifera has the highest content in vitamins A and C with good amounts of protein, phosphorous and calcium. M. oleifera trees grow fast in dry areas and in areas where strong winds and long dry spells occur simultaneously causing serious soil erosion. Hence, M. oleifera can play a role in the fight against desertification. To sustainably combat food shortages and mitigate climate change effects, M. oleifera stands as a very simple and readily available opportunity. However, little is known about leaves biomass production of M. oleifera and how this correlates with combined effects of climatic conditions, soils properties and intensities-frequency of leaves harvest. In addition which factors determine local people willingness to grow and consume M. oleifera are seldom documented. Gathering these informations is expected to help effective integration of M. oleifera as a strategy to combat food insecurity and desertification and to sustainably mitigate climate change effects through sound policies. This research project thus aims to sustainably contribute to the improvement of the level of use and cultivation and to a better biomass production of Moringa oleifera in Benin. This will be achieved through (i) quantitative ethnobotany studies; (ii) cultivation and management practices analysis; (iii) morphological characterization; (iv) ecological adaption; (v) performances studies of different accessions under climatic conditions of Benin and (vi) biomass production estimation. For more details, contact Kisito GANDJI