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

 Corresponding author: Assalé Adjo Annie Yvette Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Endogenous knowledge of the supply services provided by woody plants in cocoabased agroforestry systems in the Bonon department (west-central Ivory Coast) Adjo Annie Yvette Assalé 1, *, Guillaume Hounsou-Dindin 2, Kolawolé Valère Salako 3, Kadio Attey Noël Koua 4, Kouassi Apollinaire Kouakou 5, Kakaï Romain Glèlè 6 and Yao Sadaiou Sabas Barima 7 1 Adjo Annie Yvette Assalé, Environmental Training and Research Unit, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Ivory Coast. 2 Guillaume Hounsou-Dindin, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Abomey-Calavi University, Bénin. 3 Kolawolé Valère Salako, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Abomey-Calavi University, Bénin. 4 Kouassi Apollinaire Kouakou, Environmental Training and Research Unit, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Ivory Coast. 5 Kadio Attey Noël Koua, Environmental Training and Research Unit, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Ivory Coast. 6 Kakaï Romain Glèlè, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Abomey-Calavi University, Bénin. 7 Yao Sadaiou Sabas Barima, Environmental Training and Research Unit, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Ivory Coast. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 Publication history: Received on 22 June 2025; revised on 30 July 2025; accepted on 02 August 2025 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2025.27.2.1834 Abstract 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 sociodemographic 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. Keywords: West Africa; Agroforestry; Cacao Farming; Sustainable Management; Ecosystem Service 1. Introduction Woody plants offer a number of material benefits to society, known as provisioning services [1]. In most developing countries, these services contribute to the well-being of several households [2]. Indeed, several organs or parts of these plants (leaves, bark, roots, stem, seed, fruit, sap and flower) are harvested for multiple uses such as food, handicrafts, medicine and packaging [3 ; 4], or sold on local, regional or even international markets [5]. Despite the importance of woody plants, the increasing intensity of human activities, including agriculture, is leading to their gradual decline or even disappearance, resulting in the disappearance of many rare and valuable species [6 ; 7]. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 378 Like many Sub-Saharan African countries, Ivory Coast has focused its economic development on the agricultural sector since gaining independence in 1960 [8]. Public policies have contributed to farmers' preference for cocoa, which has become the main source of income from agriculture for both the Ivorian population and the state [9]. This emphasis on cocoa has enabled Ivory Coast to become the world's leading producer of cocoa beans, accounting for at least 43% of international production [10]. However, cocoa farming is generally involves clearing forest, has led to a resulting in a reduction in the forest cover and the woody species they retain, as well as the ecosystem services they provide [11 ; 12]. The loss of woody plants is a threat to many communities in developing countries as they depend heavily on these resources [13 ; 14]. Concrete, effective and sustainable actions are therefore needed to prevent the disappearance of woody plants in the coming decades. Various international conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), among others, advocate minimising human impact on biodiversity and safeguarding strategic species at different levels, from local to global [15 ; 16]. The strategies developed to achieve these objectives include : (i) managing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by integrating biodiversity into all aspects of government and society ; (ii) reducing direct pressures on biodiversity and encouraging sustainable use ; (iii) improving the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity ; (iv) enhancing the benefits derived by all from biodiversity and ecosystem services [16]. Thus, Agroforestry, defined as a land use system in which species are intentionally introduced or preserved in plantations [17 ; 18], appears to be a developed strategy for species conservation. It represents a more promising solution for conserving woody plants for the well-being of rural populations. These plants left in plantations provide several supply services such as food, medicine, construction and fodder, and thus help to improve the living conditions of farmers [19 ; 20]. However, the services provided by these cropping systems depend on the diversity of woody species found there and the range of knowledge accumulated by local populations about these species [21]. The diversity of species found there (which are spared by the farmers) depends in part on the farmers' traditional knowledge of the services provided by these plants. This traditional knowledge of the services provided by plants is acquired through practices and beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation [22]. The importance of assessing the diversity of communities' local knowledge lies in the fact that human relationships and nature are dynamic entities and are under the influence of several factors, including the socio-cultural group [23]. Consequently, within the same ecological zone, endogenous perceptions and practices for natural resource management may vary according to origins, ancestral legacies and intercultural transmissions [23 ; 13]. Previous studies have concluded that individual attributes such as age, gender, household and community roles and responsibilities, occupation, natural dispositions, intellectual abilities, ethnicity and proximity to other ethnic groups could influence endogenous knowledge of natural resources within the same community [6]. In Ivory Coast, studies on the socio-demographic characteristics of cocoa farmers and their endogenous knowledge of the material benefits provided by cocoa-based agroforestry systems are nearly non-existent. However, this information is vital for understanding the socio-ecological dynamics of these systems and for initiating strategies for the conservation and development of woody species in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, that provide services to populations due to the rural communities' dependence on these species. This study therefore aims to address this gap by focusing on two main research questions : What are the supply services provided by woody plants in cocoa-based agroforestry systems (PLSAC) ? What socio-demographic characteristics influence local populations' endogenous knowledge of the supply services provided by PLSACs ? 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study area This study was carried out in one of the largest cocoa production zones in Ivory Coast, namely the second largest zone, located in the centre-west of the country, in the sub-prefecture of Bonon (Figure 1). Belonging to the Marahoué region, the study area benefits from a Guinean-type climate characterised by four seasons : a long rainy season (May to midJuly), a short rainy season (September-November), a long dry season (December-February) and a short dry season (mid-July to September). The landscape of Bonon is also dominated by a hydrographic network made up exclusively of temporary watercourses that feed a succession of low-lying areas and short, narrow slopes that join the tributaries of the Marahoué. The relief is made up of low plateaux with an altitude of 260 m and small, rarely encountered lowlands [24]. The soils are mostly ferralitic, moderately denatured and predominantly sandy-clay [11]. The population of Bonon consists of indigenous people (Gouro), non-native Ivorians (Baoulé, Sénoufo, and Tagbana), and foreign settlers (Burkinabé, Malian, and Beninese). The work took place in five villages in the Bonon sub-prefecture, namely Dabouzra, World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 379 Ouarebota, Blaisekro 2, N'Guatakoukro and Koffikro (Figure 1). The main activity of the population of these villages is agriculture, based on the cultivation of cocoa, coffee and food crops such as plantain, rice, yams and maize. Figure 1 Breakdown of the surveyed localities 2.2. Sampling and data collection Semi-structured ethnobotanical surveys were used to collect data. This method made it possible to interview cocoa farmers who could provide information on the supply services provided by PLSACs. In the absence of census data on the local population, we counted the number of cocoa farmers practising agroforestry. After this count, the sample to be surveyed was drawn up by quota, applying a 10% sampling rate to the number of cocoa farmers practising agroforestry in each surveyed village. As a result, a total of 50 farmers from the Bonon sub-prefecture were interviewed. The respondents included men and women of various ages, levels of education and ethnicities from different localities. During the surveys, the collected information mainly concerned the names of the woody species spared in their plantations and the different parts of the woody plants used (leaf, bark, root, trunk, fruit, seed, others to be specified). The questionnaire also covered the categories of supply services provided by the woody species (food, medicinal, construction, fodder or other). 2.3. Data processing and analysis Determining the endogenous knowledge of the supply services provided by PLSACs The nomenclature of the plant species collected from riparian populations followed [25] while species names were based on the APG 4 system. The botanical families of the species were determined using reference documents such as the flora of Ivory Coast by [26 ; 27] and APG 4. The frequency of citation (Fc) of a species, the part of the species used or a category of service provided is expressed as a percentage (%) and is estimated by the following formula : Fc =(𝑁𝑖 𝑥 100) 𝑁𝑒 ……… (Equation 1) Where Ni is the sum of citations for a species, part used, use or category of supply service provided and Ne is the sum of citations for all species, parts used, uses or categories of service provided. When Fc approaches 0, the species or part of the species is poorly used and the provisioning service is minimally provided. Conversely, the opposite trend is observed when F tends towards 100. The Sankey diagram was constructed to illustrate the relationships between supply services and the plant parts used by farmers. The diagram was produced using RStudio software version R.3.5.2. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 380 Identification of Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Local Knowledge on Provisioning Services Provided by PLSAC First, the Fidelity Index of supply services was calculated according to ethnicity and locality and a Correspondence Factorial Analysis (CFA) performed on the matrix obtained to describe the associations between these parameters and PLSAC supply services. The CFA was performed using RStudio 3.5.2. software with the 'FactoMineR' package [28]. Secondly, the number of supply services cited by each respondent was used to assess the influence of socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age class, level of education, ethnicity and locality) on local knowledge of the services provided by the species. To this end, a generalised linear Poisson model was used to test the effect of socio-demographic characteristics on the number of services cited. The saturated model (containing the main effects of all the factors and their possible interactions) was specified first. The parsimonious model, containing fewer factors, was then selected. 3. Results 3.1. Diversity of PLSACs providing supply services The respondents listed 53 species belonging to 43 genera and 23 botanical families that provide them with supply services (Table 1). The most represented botanical families are Moraceae (18.87 %), Sterculiaceae (9.43 %) and Rutaceae (7.55 %). In contrast, Clusiaceae, Combretaceae, Lauraceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapotaceae and Verbenaceae are the least represented botanical families, with a frequency of 1.89 % each (Figure 2). The species most cited by farmers are fruit species such as Mangifera indica (10.13 %), Elaeis guineensis (8.57 %), Persea americana (7.01 %) and Citrus sinensis (6.62 %). Artocarpus heterophyllus, Cordia platythyrsa, Cordia senegalensis, Delonix regia, Ficus lutea, Ficus mucuso, Ficus religiosa, Garcinia afzelii, Mansonia altissima and Spondias mombin are the species with the lowest citation frequencies (0.13 %) (Table 1). The people of the Bonon sub-prefecture identified five (05) areas in which they use PLSACs (Figure 3). These are food, construction, fodder, medicine and cosmetics. Food and medicine were the services most frequently cited by the population, with frequencies of 48.18 % and 31.04 % respectively. The cosmetic service is the least represented (0.65 % of citations). Figure 2 Botanical families of species used by cocoa farmers in the Bonon sub-prefecture Table 1 Frequency of PLSAC citations identified Species Family Frequency of quotation (%) Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae 10.13 Elaeis guineensis Arecaceae 8.57 Persea americana Lauraceae 7.01 Citrus sinensis Rutaceae 6.62 Morinda lucida Rubiaceae 5.84 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 381 Psidium guajava Myrtaceae 4.42 Milicia excelsa Moraceae 3.77 Cola nitida Sterculiaceae 3.51 Ficus exasperata Moraceae 3.51 Citrus limon Rutaceae 3.38 Nesogordonia papaverifera Sterculiaceae 2.99 Ricinodendron heudelotii Euphorbiaceae 2.86 Newbouldia laevis Bignoniaceae 2.73 Alstonia boonei Apocynaceae 2.47 Triplochiton scleroxylon Sterculiaceae 2.47 Tectona grandis Verbenaceae 2.21 Annona muricata Annonaceae 1.95 Citrus reticulata Rutaceae 1.95 Ficus sur Moraceae 1.95 Parkia biglobosa Mimosaceae 1.95 Ceiba pentandra Bombacaceae 1.69 Antiaris toxicaria Moraceae 1.56 Citrus maxima Rutaceae 1.56 Azadirachta indica Meliaceae 1.43 Millettia zechiana Fabaceae 1.43 Vitellaria paradoxa Sapotaceae 1.3 Xylopia aethiopica Annonaceae 1.3 Artocarpus altilis Moraceae 1.04 Cocos nucifera Arecaceae 0.91 Tamarindus indica Caesalpiniaceae 0.78 Holarrhena floribunda Apocynaceae 0.65 Sterculia tragacantha Sterculiaceae 0.65 Baphia nitida Fabaceae 0.52 Bauhinia thonningii Caesalpiniaceae 0.52 Margaritaria discoidea Euphorbiaceae 0.52 Terminalia superba Combretaceae 0.52 Bombax buenopozense Bombacaceae 0.39 Jatropha curcas Euphorbiaceae 0.39 Borassus aethiopum Arecaceae 0.26 Celtis zenkeri Ulmaceae 0.26 Kigelia africana Bignoniaceae 0.26 Milicia regia Moraceae 0.26 Trema guineensis Ulmaceae 0.26 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 382 Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae 0.13 Cordia platythyrsa Boraginaceae 0.13 Cordia senegalensis Boraginaceae 0.13 Delonix regia Caesalpiniaceae 0.13 Ficus lutea Moraceae 0.13 Ficus mucuso Moraceae 0.13 Ficus religiosa Moraceae 0.13 Garcinia afzelii Clusiaceae 0.13 Mansonia altissima Sterculiaceae 0.13 Spondias mombin Anacardiaceae 0.13 Farmers in Bonon sub-prefecture use eight plant parts from woody species to meet their needs. These are branches. bark. leaves. fruit. seeds. roots. sap and trunk. The plant parts most frequently mentioned were fruit (43.64 %) and leaves (19.22 %). The least cited parts are roots. sap and branches. with frequencies of 3.12 %. 1.56 % and 0.91 % respectively (Figure 3). For food purposes. Farmers use four plant organs : leaves. fruit. seeds and sap. In medicinal. they used the bark. leaves. fruit and roots. The branches. seeds and trunks of species are primarily used for construction. For fodder. only the leaves are used. and for cosmetics. three plant parts (fruit. leaves and bark) are used. In addition. based on the number of parts used by farmers. 15 categories of supply services are provided by woody plants in cocoa-based agrosystems in the subprefecture. These include four service categories for food and medicine. three for construction and cosmetics. and a single service category for fodder (Figure 3). Figure 3 Types of supply services provided in connection with PLSAC bodies A total of 21 species. belonging to 17 genera and 12 families. are used by the surveyed populations for food purposes through the consumption of leaves. fruit and plant sap (Table 2). They represent 39 % of all species cited for all uses. The food species with the highest fidelity indices are Mangifera indica (100%). Citrus sinensis (98%). Elaeis guineensis (96%) and Persea americana (96%). Conversly. Artocarpus heterophyllus. Bombax buenopozense. Spondias mombin and Sterculia tragacantha with a loyalty index equal to 2% are the least cited food species. There are 19 species used for their fruit. with Mangifera indica (100%). Citrus sinensis (98%) and Persea americana (96%) having the highest fidelity index. Two species are used for their leaves. These are Bombax Buenopozense (02%) and Ceiba pentandra (16%). Only one species. Elaeis guineensis is consumed for its seeds. with a fidelity index of 96%. In addition. the sap of this species is also used for human consumption with a fidelity index of 24% (FI = 24%). World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 383 Table 2 Species used for each type of supply service provided by woody species Species Al_F e AlFr Al_G r Al_S e ConsBr Cons_ Gr Cons_ Tr Cos_ Ec Cos_F e Cos_ Fr Four_ Fe Med_ Ec Med_ Fe Med_ Fr Med_ Ra Tot al Alstonia boonei - - - - - - - - - - - x x - x 3 Annona muricata - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Antiaris toxicaria - - - - - - x - - - - x x - - 3 Artocarpus altilis - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Artocarpus heterophyllus - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Azadirachta indica - - - - - - - - - - - x x - x 3 Baphia nitida - - - - x - - - - - - - - - - 1 Bauhinia thonningii - - - - - - - - - - - x x - x 3 Bombax buenopozense x x - - - - - - - - x - - - - 3 Borassus aethiopicum - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Ceiba pentandra x - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 2 Celtis zenkeri - - - - - - x - - - - x - - - 2 Citrus limon - x - - - - - - - - - - x x - 3 Citrus maxima - x - - - - - - - - - - - x - 2 Citrus reticulata - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Citrus sinensis - x - - - - - - - - - - x - - 2 Cocos nucifera - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Cola nitida - x - - - - - - - - - x - x - 3 Cordia platythyrsa - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Cordia senegalensis - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Delonix regia - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Elaeis guineensis - - x x x x - - - - - - - - - 4 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 384 Ficus exasperata - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - 1 Ficus lutea - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - 1 Ficus mucuso - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - 1 Ficus religiosa - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - 1 Ficus sur - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - 1 Garcinia afzelii - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Holarrhena floribunda - - - - - - - - - - - x x x x 4 Jatropha curcas - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - 1 Kigelia africana - - - - - - - - - - - x x - - 2 Mangifera indica - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 Mansonia altissima - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Margaritaria discoidea - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Milicia excelsa - - - - - - x - - - - x x - - 3 Milicia regia - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Millettia zechiana - - - - - - x - - - - - x - - 2 Morinda lucida - - - - - - - - - - - x x - x 3 Nesogordonia papaverifera - - - - - - x - - - - x x - - 3 Newbouldia laevis - - - - - - - - - - - x x - x 3 Parkia biglobosa - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 Persea americana - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 Psidium guajava - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 Ricinodendron heudelotii - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 Spondias mombin - x - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Sterculia tragacantha - x - - - - - - - - - x x - x 4 Tamarindus indica - x - - - - - - - - - x x - - 3 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 377-396 385 Tectona grandis - - - - - - - - - - - x x x - 3 Terminalia superba - - - - - - - - - - - x x x - 3 Trema guineensis - - - - - - - - - - - x x - - 2 Triplochiton scleroxylon - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - 1 Vitellaria paradoxa - - - - - - - x x x - x x x - 6 Xylopia aethiopica - x - - - - - - - - - - - x - 2 Total 2 19 1 1 2 1 15 1 1 1 6 23 25 8 7 Al = Food ; Med = Medicinal ; Cons = Construction ; Four = Fodder ; Cos = Cosmetic ; Fe = Leaf ; Fr = Fruit ; Ec = Bark ; Ra = Root ; Tr = Trunk ; Gr = Seed ; Se = Sap ; Br = Branch ; x = Present ; - = Absent. 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