Abstract

In the West African Sudanian regions, people depend on natural products, especially on highly valued species as source of income, fuel wood, food, medicine, fodder for livestock etc. However, land-use management coupled with unsustainable uses of highly valued trees might jeopardize the long-term viability of some species’ populations. Thus, we compared the population structures of two trees, Afzelia africana and Pterocarpus erinaceus and the extent of bark and foliage harvesting within two contrasting land-use types using a random stratified design with 45 replication plots for each species. For both species, population structures were stable in the protected area whereas they showed a declining structure in the agroforestry parklands with lower densities of seedlings and adults as well as a total lack of saplings and young mature trees. In addition, both specieswere over-exploited. More individuals of A. africana and P. erinaceus were harvested with a weak to severe intensity in the parklands, while only few individuals were harvested in the protected area, with a higher proportion of weak to medium intensity. To ensure conservation of these highly valued species, participatory introduction of juveniles and sensitization for seedling protection are required in the agroforestry parklands.

Key words: Population structure, W National Park, agroforestry parklands, pruning, debarking, West Africa