Pratiques sylvicoles et culturales dans les pays agroforestiers suivant un gradient pluviométrique nord-sud dans la région de Maradi au Niger

Sylvicultural and Cultural Practices in Agroforestry Parklands According to a North-South Rainfall Gradient in Maradi Region, Niger. A study on sylvicultural and cultural practices in the parklands was conducted in three village territories of Maradi region following a rainfall gradient. Surveys conducted with farmers coupled with sylvicultural data collection are used as the methodological tools. The results showed that farmers` managed natural regeneration in the village territories has lasted at least 10 years. It is practiced by imitating relatives and neighbors or initiated by development projects or extension services. The reasons that guided farmers to care and protect trees are wood provision to households, soil fertilization, fodder, and pharmacopeia and erosion control. Plant diversity is more important in Moulmouchi than Batchaka and Koda. Also, species with high agronomic, economic and food values are preferred by farmers. The different sylvicultural operations carried out in the village territories indicate that farmers pay attention to the protection and management of trees in their farms. Some species like Acacia senegal, Azadirachta indica and Adansonia digitata inventoried in the farms have been planted and conserved with others from natural regeneration. Sylvicultural and cultural operations used by farmers for tree management in the fields are many and diverse. The more used operations are improved clearing, pruning and by staking plant. Nevertheless, farmers use some practices which do not favour the preservation of trees in the farms. Some of them are abusive cutting, groundnut growing, bark removal, use of animals for plowing and illegal cutting of trees by transhumant herders. Pharmacopeia, construction and energy, fodder, human food are the principal uses of tree species in this region. The most harvested tree organs are wood, leaves, fruits and barks. Benefits derived from trees are what make farmers to manage and protect trees in their farms without external intervention.