Management of Nere (Parkia biglobosa) in farmers’ fields in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Parkia biglobosa (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) is one of the most important and widespread trees in

agroforestry systems from Senegal to Uganda. The National Tree Seed Center (CNSF) of Burkina

Faso has developed a breeding and improvement program for this multipurpose tree. To better

conserve and promote the best reproductive materials for domestication, it is important to

understand how farmers perceive and manage the species in their fields. Farmers appear to have

an active role in shaping tree species diversity and richness, affecting also the overall spatial

distribution, density, and structure of tree populations. We examined some choices made by

farmers with regard to species and individuals to be maintained, and practices used to conserve

trees