Semi-wild palm groves reveal agricultural change in the forest region of Guinea |
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Authors: | Cécile Madelaine Eric Malézieux Nicole Sibelet Raphaël J Manlay |
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Institution: | (1) UMR SYSTEM (SupAgro-Cirad-Inra) (Fonctionnement et Conduite des Systèmes de Culture Méditerranéens et Tropicaux), CIRAD, SupAgro, Bat. 27, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France;(2) UMR INNOVATION (SupAgro-Cirad-Inra), CIRAD TA60/15, CIRAD, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France;(3) AgroParisTech-ENGREF, GEEFT, BP 7355-34086 Montpellier cedex 4, France;(4) IRD-SeqBio, Montpellier SupAgro, bat. 12, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier cedex 1, France |
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Abstract: | In West Africa, natural regeneration of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) can be favoured by agricultural practices. The structure of palm groves may thus reflect the history of land use.
In this study, we examined the connection between biophysical factors, land use and the structure and dynamics of semi-wild
palm groves in the village of Nienh, in the forest region of Guinea (Forest Guinea), in order to determine to what extent
semi-wild palm groves could be considered as an ecological indicator of the history of regional landscapes. Grove management
strategies of farmers were also determined and related to farm characteristics. In Nienh, semi-wild palm groves were found
in three cropping systems with differing characteristics in each. Palms were scarce in lowland agricultural areas (8 palms ha−1), while they were significantly taller (15.8 m on average) and less dense (36 palms ha−1) in agroforests than in slash-and-burn cropping systems (9.4 m and 55 palms ha−1 respectively). Interviews with farmers showed that it was possible for a farmer to have a global strategy of semi-wild palm
grove densification combined with oil palm elimination on a plot scale. The lack of regeneration of palms in agroforests resulted
from the almost systematic elimination of young palms by farmers. Conversely, in slash-and-burn cropping systems, young palms
were often preserved. As the structure of semi-wild palm groves was partly explained by agricultural practices, it could be
used as an ecological indicator of changes in practice in relation to socio-economic context. |
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Keywords: | Agricultural innovation Elaeis guineensis Farmer practices Grove structure Oil palm West Africa |
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