| Summary: | This study aims to determine the value of wood and the share of household income allocated to wood consumption expenses in the mangrove areas of RAMSAR sites 1017 and 1018 in Benin, with a view to better planning reforestation programs in the peripheral areas of RAMSAR sites and reducing pressure on natural forests. Surveys were carried out among 1,060 stakeholders from various trades involved in wood processing (heads of households, housewives, food vendors, firewood collectors and retailers, charcoal manufacturers and retailers, loggers, carpenters and sawyers) in the mangrove areas of the two sites. The results showed that a household spends an average 18 446 Fcfa/year on timber consumption, 8 311 Fcfa/year on service wood, 110 230 Fcfa/year on firewood and 30 295 Fcfa/year on charcoal at RAMSAR site 1017. At site 1018, average expenditure per household is 33,938 CFA francs per year for timber, 17,700 CFA francs per year for service wood, 94,535 CFA francs per year for firewood and 24,090 CFA francs per year for charcoal. The study suggests developing a policy of planting the species used for wood and promoting less costly sources of energy for households.
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