Abstract
Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae)/Pygeum or African cherry is a mountain tree species of the tropical Africa. Prunus bark is exported dried, chipped or powdered to USA and Europe to produce an extract used to treat benign prostrate hyperplasia. The plant is considered as vulnerable and is listed in appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). This paper aims to estimate the average mass of mature stems of that tree species as a tool for establishing its non-detriment findings in Burundi. The study was carried out in July 2013 in a production forest of 2 800 ha found in the Teza sector, in the south of the Kibira National Park. Stem barks were gathered from a total of 36 mature trees of Prunus africana with diameter at breast height of more than 30 cm, known as mature trees. The harvesting of the barks was done according to the recommended sustainable technic which is, “for all trees above 30 cm DBH, only two quarters of the bark are taken from the main stem up to the first branch”. The average mass of the fresh bark of a Prunus mature tree is 47.0 kg. The quantity of the dried bark estimated to be harvested in sustainable manner each year in the Teza sector is 24.8 tons/year. This is known as the annual quota. If Burundi authorities agree to allow the exploitation of Prunus barks in the Kibira Park, the National Institute for the Environment and the Conservation of Nature (INECN), which is in charge of the management of protected areas in Burundi, can yield about 426 155.7 – 497 181.7 USD/year. And these funds can be used to enhance the strategy of conservation settled within the “Parks for Peace Project” in the Kibira national park. Key words: Prunus Africana, Kibira National Park, mass, sustainable technic, annual quota, Burundi, CITES.
Highlights
Burundi is a small densely populated country with a topography dominated by hills and mountains interspersed with seasonal and permanent wetlands in the low-lying areas
This paper aims to estimate the mass of stem barks of mature P. africana in the Teza forest in the South of the Kibira national park as a contribution to making non-detriment findings on P
Main vegetation strata include: Entandrophragma excelsum (Meliaceae), Parinari excelsa (Chrysobalanaceae), Albizia gummifera (Mimosaceae) and Prunus africana (Rosaceae) stands, Parinari excelsa var. holstii and Polyscias fulva (Araliaceae) stands, Polyscias fulva (Araliaceae), Macaranga neomildreadian (Euphorbiaceae) a and Syzygium parvifolium (Myrtaceae) stands, Hagenia abyssinica (Rosaceae) and Faurea saligna (Proteaceae) secondary forest stands, Philippia benguelensis (Ericaceae) and Protea madiensis (Proteaceae) high-altitude stands on ridges, Arundinaria alpina (Poaceae) or pure bamboo stands, stands along thalwegs and stands formed by recolonization of previously cultivated and grazed land
Summary
Burundi is a small densely populated country with a topography dominated by hills and mountains interspersed with seasonal and permanent wetlands in the low-lying areas. Overall responsibility for environmental management and protection in Burundi is housed in the Ministry of Water, Environment, Land Use and Urbanism (Ministère de l’eau, Environnement, Aménagement du Territoire et Urbanisme, MEEATU). Two autonomous institutions with environmental mandates exist under the Directorate. General of Environment and Forests: the National Institute. International License for the Environment and the Conservation of Nature (INECN) and the Geographic Institute of Burundi (IGEBU). INECN has direct management responsibility for the protected areas, including national parks and natural reserves (Hobbs and Knausenberger, 2003).
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