Moving beyond forestry laws through collective learning and action in Sahelian countries

Many commentators observe that indigenous tree species in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) provide critical ecosystem services, including inter alia food and nutritional security (Saka et al. 2002 Saka JDK, Mwendo-Phiri E, Akinnifesi FK. 2002. Community processing and nutritive value of some miombo indigenous fruits in central and southern Malawi. In: Kwesiga F, Ayuk E, Agumya A, editors. Proceedings of 14th Southern African Regional Review and Planning Workshop, 3–7 September 2001. Harare, Zimbabwe: International Centre for Research in Agroforestry; p. 164–169. [Google Scholar], 2004 Saka JDK, Swai R, Mkonda A, Schomburg A, Kwesiga F, Akinnifesi FK. 2004. Processing and utilisation of indigenous fruits of the miombo in southern Africa.. In: Rao MR, Kwesiga FR, editors. Proceedings of Regional Agroforestry Conference on Agroforestry Impacts on Livelihoods in Southern Africa: Putting Research into Practice. Nairobi, Kenya: World Agroforestry Centre; p. 343–352. [Google Scholar]; Akinnifesi et al. 2004 Akinnifesi FK, Kwesiga FR, Mhango J, Mkonda A, Chilanga T, Swai R. 2004. Domesticating priority miombo indigenous fruit trees as a promising livelihood option for small-holder farmers in Southern Africa. Acta Hortic. 632:15–30.10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.632.1[Crossref], [Google Scholar]), and forage. The degree of significance differs across SSA depending on abundance of indigenous trees, governance and availability of alternative livelihood systems. Provision of critical ecosystem services including fruits, nuts and medicinal herbs are dependent on existing tenure arrangements (Yatich et al. 2012 Yatich T, Kalinganire A, Weber JC, Alinon K, Dakouo JM, Samaké O, Sangaré S. 2012. How do forestry codes affect access, use and management of protected indigenous tree species: evidence from West African Sahel. Occasional Paper No.15. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. [Google Scholar]; Barrow et al. 2016 Barrow E, Kamugisha-Ruhombe J, Nhantumbo I, Oyono R, Savadogo M. 2016. Who owns Africa’s forests Exploring the impacts of forest tenure reform on forest ecosystems and livelihoods. Forests, Trees Livelihoods, this issue.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Google Scholar]). Akinnifesi et al. (2006 Akinnifesi FK, Kwesiga F, Mhango J, Chilanga T, Mkonda A, Kadu CAC, Kadzere I, Mithofer D, Saka JDK, Sileshi G, Ramadhani T, Dhliwayo P. 2006. Towards the development of miombo fruit trees as commercial tree crops in Southern Africa. Forests, Trees Livelihoods. 16:103–121.10.1080/14728028.2006.9752548[Taylor & Francis Online], [Google Scholar]) synthesize the crucial role that indigenous tree species play in rural livelihoods indicating that wild fruit trees represent about 20% of total woodland resource use by rural households in Zimbabwe, while in South Africa 94% of households use Sclerocarya birrea fruits for making beer, jam and juice. In the Sahelian region, indigenous tree species also play an important role in rural livelihoods (Yatich et al. 2012 Yatich T, Kalinganire A, Weber JC, Alinon K, Dakouo JM, Samaké O, Sangaré S. 2012. How do forestry codes affect access, use and management of protected indigenous tree species: evidence from West African Sahel. Occasional Paper No.15. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. [Google Scholar]). Given the degradation of natural ecosystems and the likelihood of disappearance of indigenous tree species, Sahelian Governments have adopted different forestry codes that have fuelled conflicts between resource users and policy-makers. Resource users evoke customary laws which contrast state land and tree tenure.

---

• View source

---

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2016.1153434

---

Altmetric score:

Dimensions Citation Count: