Populations structure of two food and medicinal plant species (Crateva adansonii D.C. and Sarcocephalus latifolius (Smith) Bruce) in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

In Burkina Faso, widely used woody species are declining due to uncontrolled exploitation. Populations of Crateva adansonii D.C. (Capparaceae) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (Smith) Bruce (Rubiaceae), two valued trees for local communities, deserve to be studied in this context of overexploitation of natural resources. The aim of the study was to characterize the stands of the two species. More specifically, the work compares the structures of the stands in anthropized areas with those two protected areas (Classified Forest of Koulbi and Reserves of Bontioli). The research was carried in the South-western region of Burkina Faso (West Africa). Oriented inventories following stratified sampling were carried out in stands of the species in and around the protected areas. A total of 159 relevés were carried out. No adult stands of C. adansonii were found in the protected areas, whereas the density of the species ranged from 16 ± 14 to 38 ± 35 trees per ha outside the protected areas. The densities of S. latifolius are statistically the same inside and outside protected areas (from 34 ± 19 to 74 ± 39 trees per ha). Regeneration densities of the two species are higher in Koulbi than in Bontioli. Conservation measures must be reinforced by national environmental protection services, with the involvement of local communities in protecting these valued trees.