TITLE:
Plants used in traditional beekeeping in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Schweitzer Paul, Nombré Issa, Aidoo Kwamé, Boussim I. Joseph
KEYWORDS:
Beekeeping; Melliferous Plants;Pollinating; Biodiversity; Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.3 No.5,
September
20,
2013
ABSTRACT: Beekeeping is one of
the recommended approaches in the implementation of poverty alleviation
programs in rural areas of Burkina Faso. However, plants that are important in
beekeeping have not been identified. The use of parts and organs of plants by
beekeepers and their methods of harvesting remain unknown. These limit the
conservation efforts of these important plants and affect beekeeping
development. The study was carried out in the south-central, eastcentral
regions and in Comoé and Boucle of Mouhoun regions ofBurkina Faso.
The objective of the study was to identify the plants species used by
traditional beekeepers, the different uses made of these plant parts and organs
and then to discuss the impact of these activities on the survival of the plant
resources. An ethnoapiculture survey was conducted in the main apiculture zone
of Burkina Faso, using semi-structured interviews. The methodology of botanical
coherence or convergence was applied to classify botanical species. Results
showed that 35 botanical species were used in traditional beekeeping. The use
of plant parts or organs in traditional hives construction represents 55%,
attraction of wild swarms in new beehives is 37.50% and use as a torch or as a
smoker, 7.50%. The barks are the organs most used. Trees are botanical type
most used. The results are not exhaustive and therefore other additional studies
need to be carried out. In order to sustain the use of these important plants,
their growing in nursery and their planting in the field are recommended.