Endogenous knowledge of the supply services provided by woody plants in cocoa-based agroforestry systems in the Bonon department (west-central Ivory Coast)

Cocoa farming in Ivory Coast has contributed to the decline of forest cover, leading to the the loss of woody species they preserved and the decline of the ecosystem services they provided. Given this situation, agroforestry appears to be a solution for the conservation of these plants and their associated services. However, this conservation is influenced by several factors, including traditional knowledge of the services provided. This study assessed farmers' endogenous knowledge of the services provided by woody species in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted among 50 randomly selected farmers in five villages located in Bonon a major cocoa-producing region in Central-West Ivory Coast. A generalised linear Poisson model was used to assess the influence of the socio-demographic characteristics of the people surveyed on the variation in their declared knowledge. The results show a certain mastery of the uses of plants associated with cocoa farms, as evidenced by the alignment between farmers' statements and previous work on the subject. Indeed, 53 woody species were cited by farmers as providing them with services. Their branches, bark, leaves, fruit, seeds, roots, sap and trunks are mainly used for food, medicine, construction, fodder and cosmetics. However, the use of these plants could be detrimental to the resilience of cocoa-based agrosystems to climate change. In addition, locality, ethnicity and level of education have been listed as differentiating factors in knowledge of the services provided. Integrating this knowledge into forest management programmes will ensure sustainable use of woody plants in cocoa-based agroforestry systems.