Adou Yao, C. Y., J-C. K. Béné, B. K. Akpatou, D. Kouamé et E. K. N’Guessan

Cocoa based agroforests in the Southern Côte d’Ivoire :

characterization, performances and conservation value for biodiversity

Since its independence, Côte d’Ivoire has based its development on its agriculture.

It has resulted a development of commercial and food crops.

Alongside the large plantations, smallholders hold fields with agroforestry structures that have to be described and analyzed

The rise in Ivorian cocoa production has resulted from an increase in cultivated areas through plantations set up on cleared forest land The planting dynamics have allowed the country to maintain its position as the world's leading producer for the last quarter of a century. Today, face to the disappearance of Ivorian forest reserves, the questions are to find an alternative to the slash and burn systems applied.

The aims of the project presented, here, are first of all to describe and understand smallholders planting techniques, evaluate their conservation value of these agroforests, and then validate the most promising ones.

- South-East Côte d’Ivoire: administrative region of Sud-Comoé

- East, region of Moyen-Comoé

- South-East, region of Agnéby - Region of Sud-Bandama

- Centre-Western, Region of Fromager

- Region of Moyen-Cavally, PNT

Several cocoa growing areas in the forest part of the country are concerned by the present project:

Study area

Completed step: The surveyed agroforests were at least 5 years old.

Interviews were conducted by our team itself and trained interviewers.

The data gathered involved: a description of the farmer (location, age, ethnic group, origin,

…), a description of the planted or replanted plot (age,

previous crop cover, topographical aspects,…), factors determining the choice of land and crop

management sequence, a description of the crop management sequences (planting

material, propagation method, land preparation, …).

Rapid wood plant and crop species that are maintained, and fauna censuses in each survey agroforests.

Data collection

Following step: Inventories based on new plot methods

Ethnographic transcriptions of interviews

Classification of surveyed agroforests into different types

Each plant species inventoried is classified into different plant groups : exotic or indigenous fruit trees, medicinal plants, food plants, timber species, and other uses.

Data analysis

1 – Distribution of first agroforests 1 – Distribution of first agroforests visited in the forests of Southern Côte visited in the forests of Southern Côte d’Ivoire.d’Ivoire.

RESULTSRESULTS

2 – Some newly built 2 – Some newly built agroforests visited.agroforests visited.

3 – Structures of mature agroforests 3 – Structures of mature agroforests recorded.recorded.

3 – Structures of mature agroforests 3 – Structures of mature agroforests recorded recorded (continued).(continued).

3 – Structures of mature agroforests 3 – Structures of mature agroforests recorded recorded (end).(end).

Plant species Fauna

Total number recorded in 35 AgF

87 -

- Composition - Musa- Palm trees- Woody species

- Small mammals- Snails- Birds- Insects (butterflies, …)

Plot richness 10 - 40 -

Utilizations - Food- Medicine- Timber- other uses

-

4 – Diversity in inventoried agroforests.4 – Diversity in inventoried agroforests.

4 – Diversity in inventoried agroforests.4 – Diversity in inventoried agroforests.

Upper Guinea endemic species

IUCN threatened species

Tree density average (ha)

Basal area (m2/ha)

For 35 plots of 100 m2

12 7 75 25.6

Different types of cocoa based agroforests (AgF) exist in Côte d’Ivoire.

They are all held by smallholders (1-2,5 ha).

They present various structures with multi-strata.

They contain several elements of biodiversity (plants, animals, insects) and occupy different parts of the landscape (mountains, plains, valleys, swampy sites,…).

PROJECT: AGROFORESTS OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE

These agroforests and smallholders planting techniques need to be described, analyzed, and understood in detail; their conservation value of biodiversity should be evaluated, and then validate the most promising ones.

Adou Yao, C. Y., J-C. K. Béné, B. K. Akpatou, D. Kouamé et E. K. N’Guessan