@conference {757, title = {Biodiversity and African anthropogenic landscapes: Two case studies from Sierra Leone}, booktitle = {Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the U.S. African Studies Association, 4-7 December 1993, Boston}, year = {1993}, month = {1993}, publisher = {[U.S. African Studies Association]}, organization = {[U.S. African Studies Association]}, address = {Boston, MA}, abstract = {This document reviews two case studies of biodiversity in human-affected landscapes in Sierra Leone. Both plant and animal (especially birds) diversity is discussed.}, keywords = {biodiversity, genetic resources, West Africa}, author = {H. Kandeh and S. Bobor and P. Richards} } @article {688, title = {The influence of karit{\'e} (Vitellaria paradoxa) and n{\'e}r{\'e} (Parkia biglobosa) trees on sorghum production in Burkina Faso}, journal = {Agroforestry Systems}, volume = {17}, year = {1992}, month = {February 1992}, pages = {97-118}, abstract = {

Sorghum grain yields under the karit{\'e} and the n{\'e}r{\'e} are reduced by an average of 50\% and 70\% respectively, in comparison with yields in the open field. Soil fertility, limiting primary production in the region, is at least as favorable under the tree canopies as in the open field. Reduced light intensity, to a minimum of 20\% under the n{\'e}r{\'e} canopy, is probably largely responsible for low sorghum production under the tree canopies. Benefits from the tree products are more valuable than losses in cereal yields, explaining why trees are maintained on the agricultural fields.

Pruning of tree branches, selection of (shade-) crops and tree selection could reduce crop yield losses but cannot be expected to increase tree- and crop production.

}, keywords = {agriculture, forestry, Parkia biglobosa, parkland, savanna, shade influence, tree management, tree-crop relations, Vitellaria paradoxa, West Africa}, doi = {10.1007/BF00053116}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053116}, author = {J. J. Kessler} } @article {601, title = {Karit{\'e} (Vitellaria paradoxa) and n{\'e}r{\'e} (Parkia biglobosa) associated with crops in South Mali}, journal = {Agroforestry Systems}, volume = {18}, year = {1992}, month = {May 1992}, pages = {89-105}, abstract = {

The effect of two tree species, karit{\'e} (Vitellaria paradoxa) and n{\'e}r{\'e} (Parkia biglobosa) on soil condition, development and production of cotton, sorghum and pearl millet, main crops in South Mali, has been investigated.

The soil under the trees is slightly richer (organic matter content and several cations) compared to adjacent tree-less sites. Also tree-specific effects exist.

Soil enrichment, however, is mainly a matter of redistribution of locally available nutrient resources.

Of the six associations studied, only karit{\'e}-cotton shows no tree-induced reduction in crop production. All other associations suffer greatly from reduced crop outputs caused by the trees, usually in the order of 60\%.

There are at least two reasons that explain tree-induced yield reduction. Because of increased humidity in the immediate surroundings of trees, in both soil and air, lower numbers of crop plants survive up to maturity, presumably because plants are attacked by fungi. Secondly, crop plants that mature show reduced output because of inter-specific competition for light and nutrients.

In case of n{\'e}r{\'e}, in order to minimize the trees\&$\#$39; negative influence lopping is advised. Such practice, however, is less suitable in case of karit{\'e}, because of its assumed lower potential to regenerate, as compared to n{\'e}r{\'e}.

}, keywords = {agriculture, Butyrospermum paradoxum, cotton, forestry, Mali, Parkia biglobosa, pearl millet, sorghum, tree/crop interface, Vitellaria paradoxa, West Africa}, doi = {10.1007/BF00115407}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00115407}, author = {L. J. M. Kater and S. Kante and Arnoud Budelman} } @book {386, title = {Soil and water conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Towards sustainable production by the rural poor: A report}, year = {1992}, note = {Prepared for the International Fund for Agricultural Development by the Centre for Development Cooperation Services, Free University, Amsterdam}, month = {1992}, pages = {110}, publisher = {International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)}, organization = {International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)}, address = {Amsterdam}, abstract = {This book deals with the links between environmental degradation and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Considering the length of this paper, the authors have chosen to restrict themselves to making broad generalizations, which are sometimes supported by examples of specific local soil and water conservation experiments. As is pointed out in this paper, a first step in the design of soil and water conservation policy for a given country or area must be the detailed investigation of the conditions and issues which are outlined here.}, keywords = {agroforestry, degradation, ethno-engineering, resource management, Sahel, soil conservation, soil erosion, Sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, West Africa}, url = {http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30624582}, author = {International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)} } @article {589, title = {Indigenous knowledge and economic production: The food crop cultivation, preservation and storage methods of a West African community}, journal = {Ecology of Food and Nutrition}, volume = {24}, year = {1990}, month = {January 1990}, pages = {1-20}, abstract = {This paper examines specific cultivation, preservation and storage techniques for some selected staple crops in the food farming community of Ayirebi, near Akyem Oda in southeastern Ghana. The traditional subsistence methods of Ayirebi farming households are well adapted to the social and geographical environments of the region. The long-term future of developing African communities may well lie in building up thriving rural communities producing the food needed by the wider population. However, before this can be achieved, the particular food cultivation strategies of local communities need to be understood. Micro-level studies such as this one will provide specific data vital to formulating and implementing a general agenda for national agricultural and economic development.}, keywords = {cultivation, ecology, foodstuffs, Ghana, processing, storage, sustainable development, West Africa}, doi = {10.1080/03670244.1990.9991115}, author = {George J.S. Dei} } @article {539, title = {Decisions of cattle herdsmen in Burkina Faso and optimal foraging models}, journal = {Human Ecology}, volume = {17}, year = {1989}, month = {December 1989}, pages = {445-464}, abstract = {Models of optimal foraging theory are used to evaluate the decisions of a sedentary herdsman and his family in Burkina Faso concerning the movement of his cattle from pasture to pasture. Generally, such models describe exploitation at the patch level, but are inadequate at higher levels. The herdsmen in the study area are generally sedentary, and their strategy of exploitation appears to be characterized by planning at least in terms of a whole day and minimizing daily travel time among fields. In conjuction with this conclusion a modified optimization model is proposed. We conclude that optimal foraging models are useful in interpreting and understanding the rules governing the movements of traditional West African herdsmen when so modified, but that more data are needed to develop and test these models further. (author)}, keywords = {grazing, herd movement, optimal foraging, pastoralism, sedentary husbandry, West Africa}, doi = {10.1007/BF00889500}, author = {W. F. DeBoer and H. H. T. Prins} } @book {358, title = {Land and tree tenure in humid West Africa: A bibliography}, year = {1987}, month = {1987}, pages = {33}, publisher = {International Livestock Centre for Africa}, organization = {International Livestock Centre for Africa}, address = {Addis Abada, Ethiopia}, abstract = {This bibliography covers land and tree tenure systems in countries all or part of which are in the humid zone of West Africa. A national, rather than strictly ecological approach was chosen to reflect the focus of much of the literature, which frequently deals with countries as a whole. Within the region diverse customary systems and land use modes have been affected by national policies of different ideologies and degrees of effectiveness. References are listed alphabetically by author, and subject and geographical indexes are also provided. (author)}, keywords = {agroforestry, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, chiefs, collateral, commons, communal tenure, customary law, forestry, fragmentation, Ghana, Guinea, inheritance, Ivory Coast, land ownership, land reform, legislation, Liberia, litigation, nationalization, Nigeria, property transfer, public ownership, security, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, tree crops, West Africa, women{\textquoteright}s rights}, isbn = {92-9053-091-X}, url = {http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/17341746}, author = {Paul Francis and Getachew Bulfeta} }