Ethnobotanical Uses and Vulnerability Factors of Vitex doniana Sweet. in the Dosso Partial Wildlife Reserve, Niger

Abstract

Vitex doniana Sweet is an important multipurpose tree species used by rural communities in the Dosso Partial Wildlife Reserve, Niger. This study documented local knowledge of its uses and identified the main factors perceived to affect its conservation in the reserve. Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 277 respondents from 18 villages across five municipalities. Information was analysed using descriptive statistics and ethnobotanical indices, including reported use value, relative citation frequency and fidelity level. Respondents were predominantly men, and most were farmers. The results showed that V. doniana is used for food, traditional medicine, fodder, fuelwood, service wood and handicrafts. Food was the most important use category, with a reported use value of 1.4, followed by medicinal use and fodder, with values of 1.1 and 0.8, respectively. Among plant parts, fruits and pulp were the most frequently used, with a use value exceeding 1.2, followed by stems, bark, leaves and roots. Respondents also reported signs of population decline, including decreasing abundance, ageing individuals and limited regeneration. The main pressure factors identified were bark stripping, logging and pest attacks, cited by 54.5%, 42.3% and 40.4% of respondents, respectively. These findings indicate that V. doniana provides diverse benefits to local communities but is subject to multiple pressures that may affect its long-term availability. Sustainable harvesting practices, local awareness and integration of the species into agroforestry and domestication programmes are recommended to support its conservation.