Abstract
Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree, is a socio-economically important aromatic and medicinal tree. It is currently threatened by uncontrolled exploitation, and therefore requires action to ensure its sustainable management. This study assessed the population structure and regeneration of its natural stands across three land use types in Burkina Faso: woodlands, fallows and farmlands. Sixty, fifty and fifty 50 m × 20 m plots were established respectively in woodlands, fallows and farmlands. All the plots were surveyed for adult tree (dbh ≥ 5 cm) density, dbh, total height and health conditions. Data on regeneration density (dbh < 5 cm), source (generative, stem shoots, suckers), total height and collar diameter were also collected. The results show similar total tree heights (7.0 m-9.0 m) but significantly (p < 0.05) smaller tree dbh in woodlands (mean ± SD: 20.5 ± 0.49 cm) and fallows (29.3 ± 0.64 cm) than in farmlands (32.8 ± 0.15 cm). Adult tree density (trees/ha) was 1.3 and 2.7 times higher in woodlands (82.37 ± 6.57) than in fallows (62.00 ± 3.98) and farmlands (30.02 ± 1.63), respectively. The density of regeneration in woodlands was 28 and 6 times higher than in fallows and farmlands, respectively. The majority (> 50%) of regenerating plants were suckers and no seedling regeneration was found in farmlands. The distribution of trees in diameter classes was J-shaped in woodlands, bell-shaped in farmlands and positive asymmetric in fallows, indicating recruitment bottlenecks. We found that 80.18% of individuals encountered were unhealthy. Intensive debarking and cutting were the main threats to the species and no conservation strategy was in place in the study region. We suggest measures to reduce intensive debarking and cutting, which should contribute to better management of the species.
Highlights
Local people commonly harvest fruits, leaves, flowers, roots, wood, bark and others products from trees for their livelihoods (Gouwakinnou et al, 2011)
Among the important forest resources used in Burkina Faso is Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree
The main objective of this study was to assess the current state of B. dalzielii natural stands across three land use types, namely woodlands, fallows, and farmlands
Summary
Local people commonly harvest fruits, leaves, flowers, roots, wood, bark and others products from trees for their livelihoods (Gouwakinnou et al, 2011). This can lead to an overexploitation of trees with either single or multiple uses, putting the populations of these species in a regressive dynamic. The resins extracted from frankincense trees have been traded at local and international markets for thousands of years (Groom, 1981). They are used for traditional medicine, incense, or industrial purposes (Nussinovitch, 2010). Resin has been and is still used for religious rituals and the traditional coffee ceremony, as well as for yielding volatile oils, which are used in perfumery industry (Leminih and Teketay, 2003)
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