Caractérisation des plantations privées de teck (Tectona grandis L.f.) du département de l'Atlantique au Sud-Bénin
Characterization of private teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations in the Atlantic Department of South Benin. Teak plantations are an undeniable asset, representing socio-economic and environmental importance in South Benin. Plantation owners see teak as an asset, enabling them to supplement their...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11006/39 |
| Summary: | Characterization of private teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations in the Atlantic Department of South Benin. Teak plantations are an undeniable asset, representing socio-economic and environmental importance in South Benin. Plantation owners see teak as an asset, enabling them to supplement their income through timber production and sales. Sustainable management of teak plantations requires a high level of knowledge and understanding of the resource by plantation owners. The snowball sampling method was used in order to reach private teak plantation owners. This is a chain sampling method, which uses information from the first informant (plantation owner) to trace the others in the sample. Data were collected on the socio-economic status of plantation owners, and on both the geographical location and the size of the plantations. Dendrometrical parameters were measured through strip sampling. Factor analysis followed by hierarchical classification and stepwise discriminant analysis were performed in order to build a profile of the owners. We have identified 2,431 owners and 2,624 plantations. Young plantations (up to 5 years old) represented 16.4% of the total plantation area, high forests 12.7% and coppices 70.9%. Overall, these plantations were small in size (average = 0.44 ha). The number of trees per ha was found to be high, regardless of the forest system (respectively 3,371 trees·ha-1 for young plantations, 3,006 trees·ha-1 for high forests and 6,305 trees·ha-1 for coppice). These high numbers reflect the fact that the trees represent farm-grown timber. Four groups of owners were distinguished: smallholder farmers seeking income (group 1); small city dweller planters and those motivated by securing their properties (group 2); city dweller planters with medium size plantations (group 3); and owners with large-scale plantations (group 4). All groups were willing to secure their land or be involved in the timber trade. The specific characteristics of each group need to be taken into account in considering the sustainable management of private teak plantations in South Benin. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1370-6233 1780-4507 |