Ethnobotanical Studies, Conservation, Uses of Plant Species and its Impact on Vegetation, A Case Study of Agadez Locality, Niger

Abstract

Climate change, combined with over exploitation of plant resources, impacts plant density and diversity in arid environments. To collect data, an individual ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 90 people in the Agadez locality, including 30 people per village of both sexes, to identify the various activities that impact vegetation, the different management methods, the most important species to the local population, and the contribution of income from plant resources to the promotion of socio-economic activities. This study shows that wood cutting is the activity that has the greatest impact on vegetation. A survey of people confirmed that 98% reported a decrease in vegetation cover, and 18 species have been recorded as extinct. The five extinct species with accounts for more than 1/3 of the frequency are Guiera senegalensis J. F. Gmel., Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Decne., Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst. Among the practices learned by the population for plant conservation, assisted natural regeneration (ANR) is the most widely taught and the most widely practiced for conservation and improvement of tree density. Fifteen plant species are used for human consumption, 15 plant species are used as fodder, and 32 species are used in pharmacopoeia. Income from plant resources contributes to improving the people’s livelihood.