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The role of Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Delile in the livelihood and local economy in Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso: basis for its conservation

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Abstract

Local forests and fruit trees in sub-Saharan Africa play an important role to improve food and nutrition security, health and incomes generation. The support and the economic value of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from tropical forests in people life has been widely investigated but several tree species’ uses and contribution to households’ well-being are yet to deepen. Balanites aegyptiaca is a native multipurpose tree whose several parts/organs are widely used in diversified domains. To date, the permanent gap related to B. aegyptiaca is to link the species use diversity and its economical contribution with local climate conditions, and the assessment of endogenous strategies to promote its resource conservation. This study aimed to highlight the contribution of B. aegyptiaca NTFPs in the local economy and local strategies to promote its products for endogenous conservation practices. Hence, socio-economic surveys were conducted in 120 households, five markets and nine associations across two climatic zones. Use values, use domains, economic value and local strategies for the species conservation were assessed. Results showed the used organs, and the used intensity varies significantly across climatic zones (p = 0.03). Local manufactured products are mostly from leaves and fruit. Informants reported widely almonds processing (78%). The species NTFPs are more commercialized in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (85%) compared to the Sahelian zone (15%). Average value per tree was estimated at 154 ± 28 FCFA (0.27 USD) per season in the Sahelian zone and 426 ± 19 FCFA or (0.74 USD) in the Sudano-Sahelian zone based only on fruit collection. Given its importance in local people life, endogenous strategies are adopted to safeguard the resource and for sustainably the species products. The multipurpose uses of B. aegyptiaca reported, the NTFPs financial benefits and the high resilience of the species show a great necessity to promote its domestication and in-situ conservation.

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Data availability

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially and materially supported by the International Foundation for Science, Sweden, through a Research grant awarded to OUEDRAOGO Sambo [IFS grant No. 374 D/5911-1] in collaboration with the Committee on Scientific and technological Cooperation (COMSECH). We are also grateful to Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through Lux-396 development, the Swedish Embassy-Burkina Faso, for supplementary material support. We wish to appreciate the reading support of Mrs Mary Immaculate Neh Fru of International Support Network for African Development.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the International Foundation for Science (IFS) through a research grant provided to Dr. Sambo OUEDRAOGO (Ref. (IFS-76E3A177) in collaboration with the Committee on Scientific and technological Cooperation (COMSECH)). Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through Lux-development, and the Swedish Embassy-Burkina Faso, contributed deeply to this study. The funding helped deeply in the data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

    Sambo Ouédraogo, Oumarou Ouédraogo, Adjima Thiombiano & Joseph I. Boussim

  2. University Center of Manga (University Norbert Zongo), Manga, Burkina Faso

    Sambo Ouédraogo

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  1. Sambo Ouédraogo
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  2. Oumarou Ouédraogo
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Contributions

SO carried out the field work, performed the statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. SO and OO designed the research project, gave the practical advices and read and improved the drafted manuscript. AT contributed in statistical analysis. AT and IJB supervised the work and improved the manuscript. All the authors read, revised and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sambo Ouédraogo.

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Appendix: Some main steps of the study on socio-economic values of desert date in Burkina Faso

Appendix: Some main steps of the study on socio-economic values of desert date in Burkina Faso

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Ouédraogo, S., Ouédraogo, O., Thiombiano, A. et al. The role of Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Delile in the livelihood and local economy in Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso: basis for its conservation. Environ Dev Sustain 25, 1420–1440 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-02100-w

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