Universität zu Köln

Naah, John-Baptist S. N. ORCID: 0000-0003-0628-9602 and Braun, Boris ORCID: 0000-0003-3863-2153 (2019). Local agro-pastoralists' perspectives on forage species diversity, habitat distributions, abundance trends and ecological drivers for sustainable livestock production in West Africa. Sci Rep, 9. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Despite the importance of local ecological knowledge of forage plants, there has been little discussion on how local agro-pastoralists perceive forage species diversity, abundance trends, habitat distributions and ecological drivers influencing changing abundance trends over time in rural West Africa's savannas. In estimating, assessing and investigating the ecological variables, we performed elaborate ethnobotanical surveys in seven villages in northern Ghana and nine villages in southern-central Burkina Faso. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation analysis and cognitive salience index calculations to disentangle the dynamics of local responses to ecological variables considered in this study. Our results revealed that agro-pastoralists exhibited extensive knowledge on forage species diversity, habitat types, abundance trends and ecological drivers. According to agro-pastoralists interviewed, about 82 percent of all forage species known to them were commonly available in local landscapes, while a majority of our interviewees indicated that available forage resources have shown a gradually increasing trend over the past few years. Rainfall variability, tree cutting and drought were the topmost perceived threats causing changes in the trends of forage species abundance. Given our findings, local perceptions of agro-pastoralists could have substantial practical implications in favor of forage-related biodiversity conservation and sustainable livestock production.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Naah, John-Baptist S. N. UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-0628-9602 UNSPECIFIED Braun, Boris UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-3863-2153 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-156781
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-019-38636-1
Journal or Publication Title:	Sci Rep
Volume:	9
Date:	2019
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2045-2322
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Geosciences > Geographisches Institut
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ADAPTATION STRATEGIES; CLIMATE-CHANGE; KNOWLEDGE; DESERTIFICATION; MANAGEMENT; RANGELANDS; ECOSYSTEM; RICHNESS; EVENNESS; IMPACTS Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/15678