IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD PLANTS IN THE TOWN OF BOUAFLE (CENTRAL-WESTERN COTE D'IVOIRE)

Abstract

In a world that is becoming increasingly urbanised, the thorny problem of feeding urban populations is a pressing one. However, the introduction of food plants is not taken into account in the urbanisation politics of localities in Côte d'Ivoire. This study, carried out in the town of Bouaflé, has improved knowledge, conservation and development of the food species found in urban environments. The types of development were the sites inventoried. The surface survey method was combined with the itinerant method during the floristic inventories. A total of seventy (70) food plants divided into 56 genera and 35 botanical families within eight (8) types of development have been identified. Dwellings had the highest number of food plants, with 50, followed by public buildings, with 49. The Solanaceae family is the most represented, with 11% of plants. Similarly, micro phanerophytes and introduced species are the taxa most commonly found in these landscapes. Arborescents species are the most numerous in all types of planting, with proportions ranging from 50% to 66.67%. Preferred food plants, which are very frequent and abundant, are the most numerous, accounting for 71.43% of all food plants. Thus, the priority given to ornamental plants for embellishing and recreating populations is the factor that limits the presence of food plants in the town of Bouaflé.