Vitellaria Research Articles

Opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Community Environment Conservation Fund: Implications for conservation of endangered tree species

AbstractThe shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), one of the indigenous tree species in sub‐Saharan Africa, is facing extinction because of its hardwood, which provides the best fuel wood, and its charcoal is the best amongst all tree species in Uganda. To conserve these trees in Northern Uganda, the Community Environment Conservation Fund was implemented to help communities harness its benefits, such as carbon sequestration, microenvironment regulation and income generation through the sale of shea nuts and shea butter. As a result, there was a need to understand the opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Community Environment Conservation Fund. Qualitative methods like the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used and a participatory process mapping tool called the Process Net‐Map was applied to identify the actors involved and assess their level of influence in the implementation process, eliciting the opportunities and challenges faced. The research findings showed multiple opportunities in the conservation efforts, including enhanced adoption of community‐conservation by‐laws, positive mindset change towards shea tree and environmental conservation, improved credit access, diversification of income‐generating alternatives and asset creation. However, some challenges existed during the implementation phase, including moral hazard, strategic defaulting, free riding and limited financial resources. Each of these challenges significantly impacted the effectiveness and sustainability of the fund, enlightening the need for adaptive strategies. Some strategies identified were enhancing training, especially regarding fund management and enterprise selection; increasing the startup funds to at least UGX 3,000,000 ($790) per group; incorporating the declining balance approach; and lengthening the gestation period to at least 6 months. By addressing these challenges, more resilient and sustainable conservation efforts can be made, safeguarding the invaluable shea trees for future generations.

Stand Dynamics of Non-Wood Forest Product Species in the Kuinima Classified Forest (KCF) in the Houet Province (Burkina Faso)

The vegetation cover of forest ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa is currently deteriorating. Species that provide non-wood forest products such as Vitellaria paradoxa, Parkia biglobosa and Adansonia digitata are not spared. The aim of this study is to contribute to the valorization and conservation of these species. To achieve this, a forest inventory of the main species was conducted in the Kuinima classified forest. A systematic inventory was carried out using circular plots with a radius of 20 cm. The data obtained was complemented by a structural study of these formations, based on the circumference measured at 1m 30 from the ground. ANOVA analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between densities. The results show that Vitellaria paradoxa has the highest average density (47.714±65.165 individuals/ha), followed by Parkia biglobosa (5.626±2.29 individuals/ha). In terms of health condition, Vitellaria paradoxa is the most attacked by Loranthaceae (41.93%). Regarding the stand structure, all three species show an abundance of juvenile trees (c ≤20 cm). Moreover, with the low mortality rates observed, the dynamics is evolutionary for all three species. In order to preserve the wood potential of this forest, capacity building, technical and awareness-raising actions could be undertaken. These results constitute data that should be taken into account in programs for the conservation of NWFP species in general, and for the control of Loranthaceae that parasitize Vitellaria paradoxa in particular.

Total quality management practices among women shea processors: Implication for job performance and household expenditure

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a strategic framework for the continuous improvement of an organisation's practices to achieve overall performance. In the food industry, TQM practices remain inevitable as far as quality remains a benchmark for sustained competition and customer satisfaction. Small businesses like shea processing require continuous improvement, value addition and quality assurance to guarantee access to lucrative and international markets. This could be realised through TQM implementation. However, there is a dearth of studies on the relevance of TQM practices on the performance of shea processors in the literature particularly in the Ghanaian context. Therefore, this study explored TQM implementation and its impact on small-scale women shea processors which is rare in the literature but of utmost importance. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 120 shea processors using a multi-stage sampling. The Seemingly Unrelated regression and Structural Equation Modelling were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that socioeconomic characteristics (age, education, experience, off-farm job, paid labour), sources of shea nut characteristics (self-collect, value of shea nut collected/purchased) and sales outlet characteristics (big processors) had heterogenous effect on the implementation of various TQM practices. Positively, all the TQM practices had covariance relationships. Further, the implementation of TQM practices such as training and development, innovation and customer focus had diverse positive effects on the number of customers and workers employed, while the number of customers per production had a positive effect on the household expenditure of processors.

Genetic diversity and population structure of superior shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. paradoxa) using SNP markers for the establishment of a core collection in Côte d'Ivoire.

The shea tree is a well-known carbon sink in Africa that requires a sustainable conservation of its gene pool. However, the genetic structure of its population is not well studied, especially in Côte d'Ivoire. In this study, 333 superior shea tree genotypes conserved in situ in Côte d'Ivoire were collected and genotyped with the aim of investigating its genetic diversity and population structure to facilitate suitable conservation and support future breeding efforts to adapt to climate change effects. A total of 7,559 filtered high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified using the genotyping by sequencing technology. The gene diversity (HE) ranged between 0.1 to 0.5 with an average of 0.26, while the polymorphism information content (PIC) value ranged between 0.1 to 0.5 with an average of 0.24, indicating a moderate genetic diversity among the studied genotypes. The population structure model classified the 333 genotypes into three genetic groups (GP1, GP2, and GP3). GP1 contained shea trees that mainly originated from the Poro, Tchologo, and Hambol districts, while GP2 and GP3 contained shea trees collected from the Bagoué district. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) identified 55% variance within populations and 45% variance within individuals, indicating a very low genetic differentiation (or very high gene exchange) between these three groups (FST = 0.004, gene flow Nm = 59.02). Morphologically, GP1 displayed spreading tree growth habit, oval nut shape, higher mean nut weight (10.62g), wide leaf (limb width = 4.63cm), and small trunk size (trunk circumference = 133.4cm). Meanwhile, GP2 and GP3 showed similar morphological characteristics: erect and spreading tree growth habit, ovoid nut shape, lower mean nut weight (GP2: 8.89g; GP3: 8.36g), thin leaf (limb width = 4.45cm), and large trunk size ( GP2: 160.5cm, GP3: 149.1cm). A core set of 100 superior shea trees, representing 30% of the original population size and including individuals from all four study districts, was proposed using the "maximum length sub-tree function" in DARwin v. 6.0.21. These findings provide new knowledge of the genetic diversity and population structure of Ivorian shea tree genetic resources for the design of effective collection and conservation strategies for the efficient use of inbreeding.

Determinants of shea nut marketing arrangements in northern Uganda

This study assessed factors influencing shea nut actors’ choices of shea nut marketing arrangements in northern Uganda. An understanding of these factors is vital in influencing the choice of the different marketing arrangements. Cross-sectional data was collected from a sample of 325 shea nut actors. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model. The shea nut actors in this study were composed of 78% collectors, 16% traders and 7% processors. About 73% and 43% of shea collectors and traders, respectively, sold their shea nuts and/or products through spot markets, while, 45% of the processors sold their shea nut and/or products through informal contracts. Formal contract was the least common marketing arrangement among all the actors. The probability of choosing each the marketing arrangement were influenced by several factors including experience, education, income level, access to extension, training, access to credit, awareness of innovations in the shea value chain, awareness of value addition supporting institutions, main occupation (farming), distance to the market, access to information and means of transport used (head portage). Efforts to increase formal contract participation should focus on providing extensions and creating awareness about institutions that support value addition. There is need for a location and actor specific approach in promoting the different market arrangements in shea products marketing.

Diversity of tree flora in the forest galleries of four ponds in the Comoé National Park (north-east Ivory Coast)

The riparian forest galleries of the ponds in the Comoé National Park (CNP) constitute microhabitats colonised by a specific plant and animal community. These plant formations are of great research interest. These initiatives could lead to efficient management of these biomes in the short, medium and long term. This study is part of an effort to make the most of plant resources in forest galleries. The aim of this study is to assess the diversity of riparian species in the ponds of the CNP. The information was collected using the surface survey method combined with the roving inventory method. The inventory identified 78 species divided into 63 genera and 30 families. The buffalo pond forest gallery has the highest species richness, with 39 species in 33 genera and 19 families. The study also showed that for trees with DBH ≥10 cm, the species Diospyros mespiliformis (25.89%), Mitragyna inermis (17.11%), Khaya senegalensis (12.27%), Piliostigma thonningii (11.65 %), Cola gigantean (11.16 %), Vitellaria paradoxa (10.90 %) and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (10.84%)) are the most abundant in riparian pond formations. The Fabaceae and Rubiaceae families are the most represented in terms of number of species, demonstrating that the flora of the forest galleries in Comoé National Park is of major ecological interest.

Adoption of agroforestry systems by smallholders’ farmers in the Sudano-Sahelian zones of Mali and Burkina Faso, West Africa

AbstractDespite the well-known potential of agroforestry systems to sustain livelihoods and ecosystem services, their targeted adoption in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa is low. To address this, we used questionnaires with 279 farmers to understand their socio-economic characteristics determining the adoption of agroforestry technologies and to record the preferred tree species in the Koulikoro region of Mali and West-Central region of Burkina Faso. The result of a binary logistic regression showed that income, off farm activities, average number of owned sheep, cooperative membership, forage security, and maintained trees and shrubs fostered the adoption of agroforestry technologies. Contrarily, the adoption of agroforestry technologies was negatively influenced by household size and crop yield. Our data show that agroforestry parklands are the most popular agroforestry technology. The most common agroforestry tree species in the study region was Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. The dominance of V. paradoxa within these parklands may be partly explained by the tree’s adaptation to severe drought and fire hazards, which are common to the study region. The study also revealed that smallholder farmers in Mali maintained trees on farms mainly for food security, whereas in Burkina Faso trees were mainly kept for maintaining soil fertility. We conclude that in all initiatives aimed at promoting the adoption of agroforestry in the study region, efforts should be made to consider farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, tree preferences, and perceptions (as identified in this study).

Soil Physical and Chemical Properties under Shea Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) at Different Stages of Growth

Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), is one of the dominant agro-forestry species in Otuke district of Northern Uganda. Due to its economic importance and, in line with the numerous threats the tree is faced with, there is an urgent need for measures to conserve this species, for example, through incorporating annual food crops in the Shea tree parkland. This, however, requires a better understanding of tree-soil-food crop interactions. A number of studies of this aspect either considered only the mature Shea tree gardens or did not provide a clear distinction between the physiological states of the Shea tree. This was the motivation for this study where we compare variation in soil properties under mature and young Shea tree gardens with sites not having trees in Okwang sub-county, Otuke district. Five soil samples (up to 15 cm deep for top soil and 15-30 cm for sub-soil) were obtained per treatment using a soil auger. Our results show that in the top soil, only percent sand varied among the treatments, while, in the sub-soil, only percentage nitrogen and average phosphorus varied among the treatments. We also found that percentage top soil organic matter and percentage of sub-soil sand had negative strong correlations with maize and soybean yields, while percentage sub-soil clay had a strong positive correlation with maize and soybean yield. We conclude that variations in soil physical and chemical properties under Mature and Young Shea gardens only occur for those properties that have a direct link to tree residues

Phytochemical profiling of wastes from the processing of shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) and pharmacological potentials within the paradigm of circular bioeconomy: Emphasizing antioxidant and antidiabetic applications

Shea butter is a natural fat that is extracted from the kernels of the shea butter tree, and it is widely used in food preparation, cosmetics, and therapeutic practices. Shea trees are prevalent across Africa, and the traditional extraction methods produce significant wastes. However, there is dearth of information on the phytochemical profiling of these wastes and their potential biomedical values. Thus, this study conducted a thorough phytochemical investigation of the shea butter wastes from different processing stages, including brown and black shea cakes (SNC1 and SNC2), shea nut shells (SNS), and shea nut wastewater (SNWW). By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), the bioactive chemicals in these wastes were identified and quantified. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the wastes were investigated for their potential pharmacological applications. The maximum antioxidant activities obtained at 60 mg/ml revealed DPPH radical scavenging of 62.34 % for SNC1, ferric reducing power of 68.13 % for SNC2, H2O2 radical scavenging of 38.46 % for SNS, and nitric oxide scavenging of 35.13 % for SNWW indicating their potentials in combating oxidative stress. Additionally, the promising anti-diabetic activity, with alpha-amylase inhibition reaching 84.74 % for SNS at 60 mg/ml highlights their potential in diabetes management. This study provides a holistic understanding of shea butter wastes, unraveling their chemical complexity and exploring their pharmacological potentials. It not only expands our knowledge of shea butter wastes, but also unlocks new avenues for utilization of the wastes in various industries, thereby contributing to waste management and sustainable exploitation of shea resources.

Impact of Different Extraction Processes on the Quality of Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) Produced by Women in the Northern Regions of Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of different extraction processes on the quality of butter produced in each region. Study Design: The production of shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) is an activity widely practiced in the North of Côte d’Ivoire using different processes, specific to each region. This leads to the great variability of butters on the market, calling into question the control of the quality of butter and limiting its valorization in the food and even technological fields. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Food Biochemistry and Tropical Products Technology, between June 2021 and July 2022. Methodology: To do this, the physical and chemical properties of butter from four (4) regions of northern Côte d'Ivoire (Poro, Bagoué, Tchologo and Hambol) were studied to judge their qualities. These different butters were then subjected to an organoleptic test in order to evaluate their levels of acceptability by a panel trained for this purpose. Results: The results obtained reflect a significant influence of all the processes on the physical and chemical properties of the butter, particularly on the quality criteria. We observe a high level of oxidation between 10.347±0.01 meq/kg (Poro) and 10.430±0.011 meq/kg (Bagoué), an accentuated acidity where the acid number varied from 10.763±0.01 mg/g (Tchologo) to 11.373±0.01 mg/g (Bagoué), leading to high free fatty acid contents of 5.986±0.02% (Bagoué), 5.891±0.01% (Poro), 5.771±0.010% (Hambol) and 5.665±0.010 (Tchologo) and an impurity phase to monitor ranging from 0.168±0.002 to 0.192±0.001. These impurity indices mostly show non-compliance for direct consumption (category I butter). However, some conformities are recorded when butters are downgraded to category II intended for the food industry with vigilance on these said conformities. Finally, the organoleptic analysis revealed a strong correlation of the general appreciation of butters with the taste but also texture and color which were influenced by the processes. Conclusion: This study highlighted the impact of all the extraction processes on the shea butter produced in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly on the peroxide indices and free fatty acids; confirmed by sensory testing.

Quality Characteristics and Thermal Behavior Diversity of Traditional Crude Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn) Butter from Burkina Faso

Quality Characteristics and Thermal Behavior Diversity of Traditional Crude Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn) Butter from Burkina Faso

The role of financial and marketing services on rural shea-producing women

Purpose: This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of financial and marketing services on shea butter production, with an emphasis on the Tolon district of Ghana, to inform evidence-based policies and practices. Research methodology: This study employed a quantitative research design, utilizing a survey approach to collect data from a sample of shea butter producers in the Tolon District of Ghana. In total, 151 Shea nut processors from Tolon, Dimabi 1, and Dimabi 2 were selected using a combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, which were subsequently analyzed using quantitative methods. Furthermore, the study employed linear regression analysis with an endogenous treatment effect model in STATA version 17 to examine the relationship between financial and marketing services, and shea butter production. Results: The empirical evidence derived from the linear regression with the endogenous treatment model indicates a statistically significant and positive relationship between financial and marketing services and shea butter production, indicating that financial and marketing services are significant factors in predicting the productivity of shea butter production. Limitations: The sample size of the study was small, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Contribution: This study provides novel insights into the dynamics of shea butter production in Ghana’s Tolon District by highlighting the quantitative effect of financial and marketing services on shea butter production, and the importance of improving access to these services. This study also provides evidence-based recommendations for collaborative synergies between government and non-governmental organizations to establish microfinance programs and marketing service centers to facilitate easier access to these essential services for shea butter producers.

Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) agroforestry systems in Northern Ghana: population structure, management of trees and impact of below canopy microclimate

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is an important tree species in agroforestry systems in West Africa and shea nuts constitute a fundamental resource for rural livelihoods in this area. This study investigated the sustainability and interactions in agroforestry systems of shea trees around the village Nakpalli in Northern Ghana. The focus of the study was the population structures and densities of shea trees on different land types, below-canopy microclimate and co-cultivation of yams (Dioscorea rotundata (Poir.) J. Miége) under shea tree canopies, and water stress of the trees in the driest season. Shea tree populations are overall well-conserved in this area, but Weibull-distributions of the tree populations and quantification of seedlings showed a lower tree density in both cultivated and fallowed lands, as compared to undisturbed bushlands. Although farmers may deliberately manage the density of larger trees, the low densities of seedlings and saplings indicate that intensified management practices, including shortened fallow periods and intentional clearing of land by fire before sowing, might negatively affect the long-term regeneration of the shea trees. Co-cultivation of yams below shea tree canopies allowed production of 11.5 t/ha as compared to 20.8 t/ha at open field conditions. The lower yields may have been caused by an almost 74% reduction of photosynthetically active radiation below canopies, relative to outside the canopies. Shea trees in the fields, fallows and bushlands had close-to-zero predawn leaf water potentials, indicating low water stress, even in the middle of the dry season. Thus, shea trees are both well-adapted and highly valued in this area, which underlines the importance of conserving this indigenous tree species in the agroforestry systems of northern Ghana.

Utilization Potentials of Endangered Savannah Tree Species in North-West Nigeria

This study evaluated the utilization potentials of some endangered savannah tree species in north-west Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed. Three Local Government areas were selected, from which 36 villages were selected. A structured questionnaire was administered to 360 respondents and ten respondents were randomly selected in each village. Data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the collected data. Most (38%) were in the 30- to 39-year-old age range. The majority sex was 100% male, 75% were married and had a family size of at least one to ten people per home. 69% of the respondents have completed formal schooling. (65%) were primarily farmers and (49%) had inherited land. Sixty-five percent of the farms were smaller than one hectare. (40%) had been farmers for an average of 21–31 years. Most farmers (100%) utilized trees as boundary demarcation, 98% as shade and 93% as medicine and wind control. However, 99% utilized trees for medicine. The predominant tree families include Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Caeselpiniaceae. The most familiar tree species were Azadirachta indica, Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Lawsonia inermis, Mangifera indica, Vitellaria paradoxa, Tamarindus indica, Jatropha carcus, Diospyros mespiliformis and Acacia nilotica used to treat and cure various ailments and diseases for optimum benefits.

Comparative Phytochemistry of Vitellaria paradoxa: Towards Establishing a Chemotaxonomic Marker

Plants have been known to serve as source of food, income and in the maintenance of health, with their phytochemicals responsible for the biological properties of plants. All parts of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) are consumed by human and livestock as medicine. The variations in the morphology and chemistry of shea tree and its product have been attributed to the various factors including their geographical sources among others. The phytochemical study of methanol extracts of the stem and leaf of shea tree collected from three locations were determined and compared. Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and triterpenes. Alkaloidal contents in the leaf extracts ranged from 8.96 ± 0.05 to 16.96 ± 0.48 while the content in the stem extracts is 5.38 ± 0.04 to 14.93 ± 0.02. The phenol contents were higher in both extracts ranging from 43.05 ± 0.04 to 142.96 ± 0.07 and 85.05 ± 0.04 to 148.51 ± 0.07 in the leaf and stem extracts, respectively. Saponin contents in the leaf range from 3.56 ± 0.01 to 19.46 ± 0.01 in the leaf extracts and 9.93 ± 0.01 to 16.62 ± 0.01 in the stem extracts. Compounds such as myricetin, kaempferol-3-glucuronide, dihydroisorhamnetin, vanillic acid, 5,7-dihydroxy2-(4-hydroxy-3)methoxy)-3-{(3,4,5- trihydroxy-6 (hydroxymethyl)-oxan-2-yl)oxy}-4H-chromen4-one, 1H-indole-3-acetronitrille, 3,5-trihydroxy-10 methylacridone, syringin, gallic acid, anthranilic acid and quassin were identified in the liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopies (LC-MS) of the methanolic stem and leaf extracts of shea tree. The results of the phytochemical investigation indicate variation in the chemical composition of the plant across the study area.

Formulation of Drilling Muds from Methyl Esters Obtained from the Transesterification of Vitellaria paradoxa Oil

Vitellaria paradoxa oil was transesterified at temperatures between 55 and 75 ̊C, different stirring speeds and for 40 minutes each. The properties of the methyl ester were studied. Rate is first order with respect to methyl ester. The methyl esters were then used with other additives to prepare the drilling muds. The rheological properties of the muds were within the American Petroleum Institute (API) acceptable limits. The total filter volumes are less than 40 cm3 which is the highest volume allowed by API. The filter cakes are between 0.8 and 1.3 cm which fall between the lowest and highest values (0.6 and 2 cm respectively). The muds exhibited flat gel properties which all fall in API’s limits with values of 10/10 and 10/11 82 % oil muds. The 85 % mud exhibited flat gel property of 15/15.

Oil produced from Ghana Shea Nut crop for prospective industrial applications

Though little research has been done, shea nut oil (Shea Butter), is a promising shea product with great potential for use in industrial shea product manufacture. To assess the oil obtained from the shea nuts for personal, commercial, and industrial use, this study focuses on the extraction process, the optimal solvent for extraction, thermodynamics and kinetic studies, and characterization of the oil. Using different solvents as well as extraction temperatures and times, the oil was extracted using the solvent extraction method. Moreover, models of thermodynamics and kinetics were used in examining the Shea nut oil extraction at different durations and temperatures. At the highest temperature of 333 K (at 130min), the highest oil yields of 70.2 % and 59.9 % for n-hexane and petroleum ether, respectively, were obtained, following first order kinetics. For both petroleum ether and n-hexane, the regression coefficient (R2) was 1. For the extraction with n-hexane and petroleum ether, the mass transfer coefficient (Km), activation energy (Ea), entropy change (ΔS), enthalpy change (ΔH), and Gibb's free energy (ΔG) were, respectively, (0.0098 ± 0.0061 and 0.0123 ± 0.0084) min−1, 74.59 kJ mol−1 and 88.65 kJ mol−1, (−236.15 ± 0.16 and −235.63 ± 0.17) J/mol K, (71.88 ± 0.06 and 85.94 ± 0.06) kJ/mol, and (148.75 ± 1.52 and 162.46 ± 1.52) kJ/mol. These values favor an irreversible, forward, endothermic, and spontaneous process. Gas chromatography analysis was used to identify the principal fatty acids in the oil, which include stearic acid (52 %), oleic acid (30 %), and linoleic acid (3 %), as well as various minor fatty acids. The oil's potential bonds and functional groups were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared analysis, and the physicochemical parameters such as the iodine value, peroxide value, acid and free fatty acid values were found to be within acceptable ranges for use in domestic, commercial, and industrial settings.

The impact of community-led conservation models on women's nature-based livelihood outcomes in semi-arid Northern Ghana

With increasing human-induced environmental degradation, women's nature-based livelihood activities are threatened. In semi-arid northern Ghana, shea processing (i.e., shea butter, a derivative of shea nut from the shea tree), a vital women-dominated economic activity, is at risk as naturally occurring shea trees continue to decline in numbers and productivity. The decline of the shea tree's number and productivity and the ensuing biodiversity loss have sparked conservation efforts by governments and local communities. This includes community-led conservation models, which have recently gained traction in the Global South. Ghana implemented the Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA)—a community-led conservation model to improve biodiversity and ecosystem services, including shea trees conservation in response to climate change. Research has not explored the impacts of community-led conservation efforts on women’s nature-based livelihoods in Ghana. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys (n = 517) and focus group discussions (n = 8), this study explored shea productivity outcomes under CREMAs. Findings show that women residing in CREMAs had significantly better shea harvesting outcomes than those outside CREMAs (α = −53.725; P < 0.01). These findings demonstrate the potential for targeted conservation initiatives that are community-led, such as the CREMAs, to improve the conservation of economically significant naturally occurring trees like Shea. With the increasing impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, such models would be instrumental in achieving sustainable development goals like SDG5-gender equality, SDG10-reduced inequalities, SDG13-Climate action, SDG14-life below water, and SDG14-life on land.

GS-MS Profile, Total Flavonoid and Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Capacity of Leaves of Vitelleria paradoxa c.f. Gaertn

Vitellaria paradoxa is an important medicinal plant that is used for the treatment of infections such as diarrhea, dysentery, helminthes, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and wounds. This research aims to determine other important uses of the plant leaves and quantify the phytochemicals present in the leaves. The plant leaves were extracted with two solvents (n-hexane and methanol). The phytochemicals were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using standard methods. The antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH. In the qualitative phytochemical screening of the methanol extract flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins were identified as being present while steroids, anthraquinones, and glycosides were absent. All the screened secondary metabolites were absent in the n-hexane extract. In the GC-MS analysis of the methanol and n-hexane extracts seven compounds were obtained from the methanol extract while a total of twenty-four compounds were obtained from the n-hexane extract. The quantitative determination of the total flavonoid and phenolic contents showed that the leaves high content of flavonoids (91.00 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract) and phenolics (91.39 mg Gallic acid equivalent /g extract). These phytochemicals could be responsible for its high antioxidant activity (79.62%).

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ADSORBENT FROM WASTE SHEA (Vitellaria paradoxa) NUT SHELL

The activated carbons (adsorbents) prepared in this study, were from Vitellaria paradoxa nut shell following the two steps of carbonization and activation processes using H3PO4 and KOH as activating agents and were labelled as HVP for H3PO4 modified adsorbent and KVP for KOH modified adsorbent. The activated carbons were characterized using standard methods of analysis. Bulk density (g/cm3) of the carbons (HVP and KVP) were 0.72±0.03 and 0.69±0.05, and attrition (%) values of 40.76±0.16 and 42.37±0.23 were obtained for HVP and KVP respectively. Results obtained also depict the presence of carboxyl O-H and C-O groups, and the N-H of amine on the surfaces of the activated carbons. The values of pH point of charge zero (pHzpc) obtained for HVP and KVP were 6.40 and 6.60 and were less than the pH values of 6.78±0.00 and 7.18±0.01 for HVP and KVP respectively. SEM results revealed surfaces with pores with different dimensions in both HVP and KVP. Results of the study suggest that the prepared adsorbents can be effectively applied in wastewater treatment.