Teteli Soloum Clement
Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Kosso) is a native tree species of the West African, providing both ecological and socio-economic benefits. It is valued for its high-quality timber exported to Asian markets, its foliage as an essential dry-season fodder, as well as its use for fuelwood and traditional medicine (UNEP & FAO, 2020; Global Timber, 2021). However, the species is now classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to overexploitation, habitat loss, intensive transhumant grazing, and very limited natural regeneration (IUCN, 2023). In Monts Kouffé forest reserve, the decline is particularly severe, with unsustainable logging and pressure from nomadic pastoralists (Sinsin et al., 2004). Despite these threats, no effective regeneration strategy has been implemented, and local communities remain unaware of the ecological importance and endangered status of this species.
This project seeks to ensure the long-term conservation of Pterocarpus erinaceus at Monts Kouffé forest reserve by combining efforts to reduce human pressures on the species with active restoration through the planting of mycorrhizal seedlings. Specifically, it aims to:
(1) Investigate the threats, uses, and conservation strategies of Pterocarpus erinaceus;
(2) Increase the community awareness of the ecological importance and endangered status of Pterocarpus erinaceus;
(3) Establish nurseries and produce Pterocarpus erinaceus seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi;
(4) Restore degraded sites in the Monts Kouffé Forest Reserve with Pterocarpus erinaceus plants produced in community-led planting.