Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, 01 PO Box 526 Cotonou, Benin.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2011 Feb 1;7:8. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-7-8.
Growing interest is on food tree species in general, and particularly indigenous fruit tree species in developing countries since they are inherent to most tropical landscapes and serve the dual function of local livelihood support and biodiversity conservation. It is therefore relevant to assess the level of integration of these species in local cultures and the factors affecting them. This study aims at assessing knowledge and uses of Sclerocarya birrea subsp. birrea and factors affecting the use values within and between communities.
This study combines quantitative and qualitative ethnobotanical approaches to investigate uses and factors affecting the use value of S. birrea subsp. birrea. Nine group discussions as well as 161 individual interviews were held in the dry and typical Sudanian zones. Seven different ethnic groups were involved and the survey focused on local uses and perception of factors affecting the dynamics of S. birrea.
The species has a multitude of uses; all organs are used for more than 20 different purposes. The study highlights how gender, local availability, ethnicity and community location interact to influence the utilization value of the species. People living in drier areas with high occurrence of the S. birrea use it more than those living in wetter areas with low occurrence. While domestic and subsistence uses do not appear to threaten the species, carving, clearing and drought stand out as the major causes of its decline.
Many factors and their interactions influence the use pattern of the species within and between communities. When compared to the level of exploitation of S. birrea subsp. caffra in southern Africa, the subspecies birrea is at this point relatively underutilized. A high commercial potential exists due to its simple propagation ability and makes it an interesting agroforestry resource.
人们对食用树种，尤其是发展中国家的乡土果树的兴趣日益浓厚，因为它们是大多数热带景观的固有组成部分，具有支持当地生计和生物多样性保护的双重功能。因此，评估这些物种在当地文化中的融合程度以及影响它们的因素是很重要的。本研究旨在评估 Sclerocarya birrea subsp. birrea 的知识和用途以及影响其在社区内和社区间使用价值的因素。
本研究结合了定量和定性的民族植物学方法，调查了 S. birrea subsp. birrea 的用途和影响其使用价值的因素。在干旱和典型的苏丹地区进行了 9 次小组讨论和 161 次个人访谈。涉及了 7 个不同的民族群体，调查重点是当地对 S. birrea 的使用和对影响其动态的因素的看法。
该物种有多种用途；所有器官都被用于超过 20 种不同的用途。研究强调了性别、当地可用性、民族和社区位置如何相互作用，影响该物种的利用价值。生活在 S. birrea 发生率较高的干旱地区的人比生活在 S. birrea 发生率较低的湿润地区的人更常使用它。虽然家庭和生计用途似乎不会威胁到该物种，但砍伐、开垦和干旱是其衰落的主要原因。
许多因素及其相互作用影响了社区内和社区间该物种的使用模式。与南非南部 S. birrea subsp. caffra 的开发程度相比，亚种 birrea 目前相对未被充分利用。由于其简单的繁殖能力，存在很高的商业潜力，使其成为一种有趣的农林资源。
