Ramdan Dramani
Sacred forests in Benin are vital refuges of biodiversity and cultural heritage. However, they are increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, unsustainable land-use practices, and the erosion of traditional beliefs that once ensured their protection. Despite their ecological and spiritual significance, the macrofungal diversity of these ecosystems remains largely undocumented, and the associated traditional knowledge on fungi is rapidly disappearing.
This project aims to explore, document, and conserve the macrofungal diversity of two of Benin’s most ecologically and culturally significant sacred forests: Ewe-Adakplame and Kpéroussobé. It has four major objectives:
(1) To conduct a comprehensive inventory of macrofungal species in the target forests and publish the data on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF);
(2) To document traditional ecological knowledge on macrofungi through ethnomycological surveys in three local communities;
(3) To assess threats to macrofungal habitats using field observations and remote sensing, and to develop context-specific conservation recommendations;
(4) To foster community engagement through participatory workshops and awareness activities, promoting local stewardship and sustainable fungal conservation.
To achieve this, the project will employ both opportunistic and systematic sampling approaches to collect macrofungal specimens. Opportunistic sampling will focus on detecting visible fruiting bodies across diverse microhabitats to maximise species richness, while systematic sampling will follow standardised protocols involving 200-metre transects and three 50 × 50-metre plots in each sacred forest. All collected specimens will be identified, preserved, and curated at the Mycological Herbarium of the University of Parakou.
Ethnomycological knowledge will be gathered from elders, healers, and local foragers from three villages adjacent to the target sacred forests. This knowledge will be integrated with inventory data to produce an illustrated, locally adapted field guide intended for use in schools and community centres. Habitat threats will be analysed using 30 years of LANDSAT imagery, supplemented by ground-level assessments and participatory mapping with forest managers. Interactive awareness workshops will be conducted in each community, using posters and leaflets incorporating cultural values to foster knowledge exchange and continuity. These workshops will adopt a socially inclusive approach, ensuring representation across gender, age groups, and occupations, including youth, representatives from the Forest Service, and local NGOs. Outreach through social media will further extend the project’s impact and visibility.
Overall, this project is designed to empower communities with scientific knowledge and educational tools, while supporting evidence-based conservation planning with actionable data.