Medicinal Phytodiversity in Cocoa Agroforestry Systems and Well-Being of Local Communities in Department of Daloa, Central West, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

In Côte d’Ivoire, despite their importance for local communities, medicinal plant species are increasingly threatened with extinction due to human activities. In cocoa agroforestry systems (AFS), farmers intentionally preserve plant species with cocoa trees to meet daily needs, including healthcare. However, the relationship between the traditional value of uses given to medicinal species and their actual availability in agroforestry systems allowing for improved efficiency in plant conservation, remain poorly documented. This study aims to show the status distribution of medicinal plants diversity in regard to its traditional value within cocoa agroforestry systems. In the Daloa Department, floristic surveys were conducted in 375 plots of 400 m² established within cocoa-based agroforestry systems (AFS), combined with ethnobotanical surveys involving 500 households. The results revealed that cocoa-based agroforestry systems host 140 medicinal plant species, mainly belonging to the Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae and Malvaceae families. This flora consists of 61.43% naturally preserved native species, 20% exotic species, and 18.57% deliberately cultivated species. Among these, species with low traditional value are numerous while species with high value for medicine are less represented. Conservation of species in AFS has to be oriented to enhance the presence of medicinal plants of interest. These findings highlight the need for intensified conservation efforts according to research results.