The Use Of Tapinanthus Dodoneifolius As A Indicator Species By The Traditional Healers Living Near Pendjari National Park

By:
Natalie Ceperley
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Ecological monitoring is essential for successful adaptive management of protected areas. However, the extent of monitoring is often limited by financial and technical shortages. Collaboration with traditional healers from surrounding populations are one method to fill this gap as they frequently search for species of ecological concern. The case of the traditional healers surrounding Pendjari National Park, Benin, was studied as an example for vegetation monitoring. Floral species of particular cultural value or ecological concern were identified for potential ecological monitoring in the course of individual interviews and participatory rural appraisal exercises. The division of the monitoring effort between traditional healers and park management will improve participatory management by including both scientific and traditional management strategies in active park management and thus conserve both the cultural and biological diversity of the region. As part of this goal, traditional management methods were also identified in the course of interviews and assessed for the possibility for integration with modern methods. This research presents a challenge for protected area management to not only to improve their adaptive management but also to increase participation.


Keywords: Tapinanthus Dodoneifolius, Monitoring, Protected Area, West Africa, Traditional Healers
Stream: Cultural Sustainability
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation in English
Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Natalie Ceperley

Student, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
New Haven, CT, USA

Natalie is interested in the interfaced between Riparian Forests, Floodplains, and Buffer zones and community based management. In the past she has used ethnobotanical and dendrochronological methods to understand this interplay and now she hopes to further understand this relationship using inventories of sacred forests in Benin, West Africa. She is currently studying the revant fields of forestry, silviculture, anthropology, and hydrology. Natalie hopes to make contacts with other people interested in this specific interplay throughout the world. Natalie is currently working on a Master's degree at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Previously she studied in Benin and Senegal and worked in Mauritania. She holds a B.A. from Grinnell College, IA, U.S.A.

Ref: S07P0315