Gnonlonfin et. al. Proceedings of 6th NSCB Biodiversity Conference; Uniuyo 2018 (200 – 207 pp) Traditional knowledge and cultural importance of Diospyros mespiliformis in Northern Benin GNONLONFIN L.1*, OUINSAVI C1, GOUWAKINNOU G.2, FANDOHAN B.3, HOUETCHEGNON T. O.1 1 University of Parakou, Republic of Benin, Doctoral School of Agronomic and Water Sciences Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Research (LERF) 2 Laboratory of ecology, botanic and plant Biology (LEB) 3 Université nationale d’agriculture, École des sciences et techniques, de conservation et de transformation des produits agricoles, BP 114, Sakété, Bénin Corresponding Author: [email protected], +22997113964 Abstract: African ebony tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) an important indigenous fruit tree has been little documented. The present study was carried out to assess local knowledge, use value and cultural importance of the species. From 9 ethnic groups, 2130 people were interviewed in the study area using semi-structured questionnaires. Principal Component Analysis was applied to analyze the use value and the cultural importance of D. mespiliformis for the different ethnic groups. All interviewees in the study area knew at least one use of D. mespiliformis. The various uses identified were food, fruits and leaves are edible by human (100 %), medicinal (93%), handicraft (21%), firewood (46%), commercial and sale (34%), fodder, leaves are eaten by animals (31%), other (22%). The various parts involved in these types of uses were: fruits [shell (22%) and pulp (62%)], bark (27%), leaves (9%), roots (3%) and stem (10%). The ethnic group consensus values for D. mespiliformis parts showed that the barks and leaves are used the most. The interviewees diversity value (ID) and equitability value (IE) indicated that knowledge concerning D. mespiliformis use was not distributed homogeneously among the ethnic groups. INTRODUCTION used regularly by Benin local people (Codjia and al, Developing country is faced to the major challenge of 2003). its agricultural paths diversification and wealth creation. This agricultural path diversification passed Thrown in 2003 on the fruit plant theme role in the food necessarily by available resources valorization and security and the reduction of poverty, the program of vulnerable farming layers’ extreme poverty reduction management of resources in plants has been reoriented while protecting environment for future generations toward the most important fruit plant. Then, to warn the (PSRSA, 2011). Reached these objectives requires a loss of genetic diversity of the ecological communities better natural resources knowledge which are include through a real integration and valorization (creation of in the local communities’ acquired habits. Indigenous value chain), the national commission for resources in fruit trees (IFT) from natural habitats or parklands are plants of Benin (CNRPB) established a list of 12 sources of diversity of non-timber forest products important fruit plants (Eyog. Matig and al. 2002). supplying local community needs in terms of food (fruits and leaf edible-roots and stems), energy Some detailed studies were conducted on distribution (provision in wood and charcoals), incomes cash of the populations, phenology, systems of production, (through the sale of plants parts), medicine (treatments biology and genetics of species as Adansonia digitata of illnesses) etc… (Vodouhê et al., 2009), Poopola (Assogbadjo, (2006)), Milicia excelsa (Ouinsavi and Obembé et al., 2013). al, 2006), Khaya senegalensis (Ouinsavi and al, (2006); Gaoue and al, (2008)), Blighia sapida (Ekué and al, Indigenous fruit trees seem to have potentials to (2009)), Tamarindus indica (Fandohan and al, (2010)); provide options for rural livelihoods and biodiversity Deutarium microcarpum (Kouyaté and al, (2009)), conservation. These trees can contribute to poverty Sclerocaria birrea (Gouwakinnou and al, 2011)); mitigation serving as subsistence "safety nets" or low Parkia biglobosa (Gbedji, (2006); Koura and al, income "gap fillers". In addition to environmental (2011)) in Benin and West Africa. Despite the high stabilization, trees are useful for industrial, cultural, number of studies on IFT, there are still some species pharmaceutical, and socio-economic purposes to man, that are neglected and underutilised with little or no contributing billions of dollars yearly to the world's information on their importance for local people. The economy. Estimates have shown that about 90 percent African ebony tree, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. of cooking and heating energy comes from trees. Ex A. Rich. (Ebenaceae) is one such neglected and Traditional societies in Africa and elsewhere have underutilised IFT species (Gnonlonfin et al., 2012) in always used plants to promote healing and traditional Benin. D. mespiliformis is a multipurpose indigenous medicine is still the predominant means of health care fruit tree which has important socio-economic and in developing countries. Several researches have been cultural values for local people. It is dioecious species carried out on cultural value of different species. These occurs in woodlands, savannahs and along riverbanks research works show that at least 172 food plants are from Ethiopiain to Swaziland. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 200 Gnonlonfin et. al. Proceedings of 6th NSCB Biodiversity Conference; Uniuyo 2018 (200 – 207 pp) it is associated with crops in agrosystems (Arbonnier, the rainy season from April to October and the dry 2002). season from November to March. The dry season is The wood with a light coloured sapwood is used for marked by the harmattan, a cold-dry and dusty construction purposes, furniture, carvings, floors, northeast wind which blows from the Sahara desert. stamping blocks, pestles and walking sticks. The edible The average temperature is 27°C but can reach 37°C in fruit is used in fermented drink or dried and stored for March and April. Soils are of the tropical ferruginous later use (food shortage). Leaves are eaten not only by type and mostly rocky and shallow throughout the people, but also by elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros, eland mountain chain (Azontondé, 1991). The vegetation is and kudu, while fruits are edible and eaten by kudu, dominated by tree and shrub savannah. The dominant baboons, vervet monkeys. In Benin, little research has woody species are Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria focused on this species. They have assessed the paradoxa, Adansonia digitata, Bligia sapida, ecological structure (Hounkpevi and al (2011)), Tamarindus indica, Bombax costatum and Khaya vegetative propagation (Tchiagam and al (2011)) and senegalensis (Wala, 2005). The population of the study chemical composition of some the species plant parts area is estimated at 2,324,408 inhabitants and the farm (Chivandi at al (2009)) of D. mespiliformis. In spite of population was 1,157,617 inhabitants (INSAE, 2013). its potential as shown elsewhere, little has been done to The population in the study area is mostly composed of comprehensively assess how the species is used in dominant ethnic groups such as Batonou, Fulani, Benin. However, this is essential to build a local as well Dendi, Mokole, Boko, Nagot, Yom, Haoussa, Adja and as global valorisation and management scheme for the Fon (Judex et al., 2009). People believe in animist species. The main goal of this study is to assess the pratices and worship divinities represented by physical knowledge of local people on the uses of D. elements such as clumps of natural stones, large sized mespiliformis, its cultural importance and whether trees or other specific constructions. Agriculture is the there are ethnic and generational differences principal economic activity in the study area and influencing its uses. farmers produce mostly yam, maize, sorghum, millet and peanut (Biaou, 2006). METHODS Study species Study method Diospyros mespiliformis (ebenaceae) is evergreen tree An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the dry with dense, rounded and buttressed stem, found in season (November–May) in 2013. An exploratory tropical forest in sub-saharan Africa from Ethiopia to survey was conducted with 30 respondents randomly the Swaziland (Arbonnier, 2002). It has been observed selected per zone with the aim to determine the number in Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, of respondents to be interviewed. The sample size was Yemen, Republic of Zambia and Zimbabwe. In our determined following the normal approximation of the study area, the tree is found in four different habitats binomial distribution of Dagnélie (1998): (parklands, woodlands, savannahs and along 2 U1α/2p(1p) riverbanks). In this habitat, adult tree can reach to 20 – n 2 d2 40 m in total height, and 150-200 cm diameter at breast d height. Leaves are alternate, shiny-green above, paler beneath, 3.5-19 cm long, 1.5-7.5 cm wide, oblong where, n is the total number of surveyed people in the elliptic. Flowers are pentamerous, white and fragrant. study; 2 Flowering starts in April-May during the rainy season U1α/2 is the value of the normal random variable for and fruits reach maturity in November-January during the dry season. Fruits are usually globose, fleshy, up to a probability value of a = 0.05, = 1,96 3 cm in diameter, greenish and pubescent when young, yellowish to orange yellow and glabrous when ripe p is the estimated proportion of people in the village with dark brown seeds. which was involved in the production, processing and/or marketing of D. mespiliformis. Study area The study was