Modeling Ecological Niches And Sustainable Management Of Piper Guineense In Côte d'Ivoire For Conservation And Domestication

Abstract

Background: Ecosystem degradation due to anthropogenic pressure is a major threat to biodiversity in Côte d'Ivoire. Piper guineense, a medicinal and aromatic plant, is particularly affected by overexploitation in the areas around the Taï and Azagny national parks. This study aims to model the ecological niches conducive to the domestication of P. guineense, to analyze current harvest levels and commercial dynamics. Materials and Method: Data on the presence and exploitation of Piper guineense in Côte d'Ivoire were collected from a literature review. The Maximum Entropy model was used to establish the ecological niche of the species and identify the most influential environmental variables. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the localities surrounding the Taï and Azagny national parks. Data on local dynamics around the exploitation of Piper guineense were collected. Results: Piper guineense is mainly present in the dense rainforests of southern Côte d'Ivoire, with a marked dependence on minimum and maximum rainfall. Ecological modeling indicates probable areas of presence in the studied parks, with an AUC of 0.822, demonstrating the robustness of the model. Furthermore, ethnobotanical surveys reveal that 55.79% of harvesters around Taï Park and 47.5% around Azagny Park are non-natives, suggesting a strong economic dependence of these populations on this resource. Reported harvests are more abundant around Taï Park (1968 kg) than Azagny (1274 kg). Conclusion: Domestication of P. guineense is proposed as a viable alternative to meet the growing demand, while reducing pressure on natural ecosystems. Conservation efforts will need to include awareness-raising initiatives, harvest quotas, and the introduction of agroforestry practices for sustainable management of this resource