@article{fdi:010042616,
  title = {{S}emi-wild palm groves reveal agricultural change in the forest region of {G}uinea},
  author = {{M}adelaine, {C}. and {M}alezieux, {E}. and {S}ibelet, {N}. and {M}anlay, {R}apha{\¨e}l},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {W}est {A}frica, natural regeneration of oil palms ({E}laeis guineensis {J}acq.) can be favoured by agricultural practices. {T}he structure of palm groves may thus reflect the history of land use. {I}n this study, we examined the connection between biophysical factors, land use and the structure and dynamics of semi-wild palm groves in the village of {N}ienh, in the forest region of {G}uinea ({F}orest {G}uinea), in order to determine to what extent semi-wild palm groves could be considered as an ecological indicator of the history of regional landscapes. {G}rove management strategies of farmers were also determined and related to farm characteristics. {I}n {N}ienh, semi-wild palm groves were found in three cropping systems with differing characteristics in each. {P}alms were scarce in lowland agricultural areas (8 palms ha(-1) stop), while they were significantly taller (15.8 m on average) and less dense (36 palms ha(-1) stop) in agroforests than in slash-and-burn cropping systems (9.4 m and 55 palms ha(-1) stop respectively). {I}nterviews with farmers showed that it was possible for a farmer to have a global strategy of semi-wild palm grove densification combined with oil palm elimination on a plot scale. {T}he lack of regeneration of palms in agroforests resulted from the almost systematic elimination of young palms by farmers. {C}onversely, in slash-and-burn cropping systems, young palms were often preserved. {A}s the structure of semi-wild palm groves was partly explained by agricultural practices, it could be used as an ecological indicator of changes in practice in relation to socio-economic context.},
  keywords = {agricultural innovation ; {E}laeis guineensis ; farmer practices ; grove structure ; oil palm ; {W}est {A}frica},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}groforestry {S}ystems},
  volume = {73},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {189--204},
  ISSN = {0167-4366},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10457-008-9146-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010042616},
}