Anthropization of Goroubi forest reserve (GFR) in North Benin, West Africa

Abstract

The Goroubi forest reserve (GFR) is under pressure leading to its extinction. This research aims to contribute to the restoration plans of the said forest in the district of Birni-Lafia in north Benin. In order to achieve this, questionnaire surveys and interviews were conducted with 79 people through random sampling in all of the villages of the district. The importance value index (IVI) of the pressures and the response rate were calculated. Mainly occupied by the rônier (Borassus aethiopum) originally, the GFR is particularly threatened by agriculture (IVI = 1), illegal exploitation (IVI = 0.94), grazing (IVI = 0.64), hunting (IVI = 0.51) and herbal medicine (IVI = 0.36). These pressures cause the disappearance of plant species (100 %), animal species (94 %), land degradation (89 %), etc. Today, the dominant occupation unit is a rice growing area with 327.7598 ha of cultivated territory. Therefore, it seems that the GFR is losing its forest identity. It is necessary to create new participatory management plan for the forest, initiate reforestation activities, set up a fixed co-management committee for the forest and create annual reports on the state of management of its resources in order to limit these pressures.

Keywords

• goroubi forest reserve
• rice growing area
• extinction
• restoration
• northern benin