Impacts of traditional practices on biodiversity and structural characteristics of sacred groves in northern Togo, West Africa

Abstract

In the northern part of Togo, several sacred groves are preserved and managed traditionally by local communities and are repositories of the biodiversity of surrounding areas. The present study aims at evaluating the impact of these traditional management practices on the biodiversity and structural characteristics of the sacred groves. Survey was carried out in these sacred groves to collect floristic and dendrometric data taking into account the different categories of management. Results indicate that the sacred groves have an average area of 0.80 ± 0.39 ha. A total of 375 species belonging to 265 genera and 75 families, have been recorded in these forests. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of the sacred groves are disturbed by their specific management practices and human activities, which leads to a significant reduction in the floristic diversity. Stand characteristics reveal variability according to the different management pratices of the sacdred groves, particularly for tree density (F(3,14) = 0.75; P = 0.542), average height (F(3,14) = 76.71, P = 0.00), dominant height (F(3,14)). = 142.27, P = 0.000), basal area (F(3, 14) = 68.40, P = 0.001) and productivity (F(3,14) = 42.30, P = 0.000). It emerged that ritual fires and woodcuttings are the main factors of sacred groves degradation. This worrisome situation requires a rapid response through a large-scale action to safeguard the sacred groves and promote community forestry that respects the principles of biodiversity conservation. Well-preserved sacred groves are storehouses of valuable medicinal and other plants having high economic value, and serve as a refuge to threatened species.

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