Subsidient: Linde Berg/Wageningen University
Subsidie: S163.S1
Even though NTFP harvesting might seem relatively harmless, it can affect vital rates and contribute to population degradation. This is also the case for Khaya senegalensis, a species of African mahogany that is harvested for foliage and bark. The aim of this study is to identify the main drivers of degradation and investigate the potential for restoration K. senegalensis populations in Benin. Four years of demographic data was collected for twelve populations and matrix modeling was used for 50-year projections of the population dynamics in the business-as-usual scenario and two different natural restoration scenarios. Results show that an increased growth rate in both restoration scenarios results in stable or growing population sizes in the projections for three populations. All other populations are projected to remain declining. We can thus conclude that the restoration potential by natural recovery is low for most studied Khaya populations and in order to restore them, additional restoration measures are needed. Future research should include in situ restoration trials and expand to the entire distribution area of the species. Action for restoration is necessary, not only for the conservation of the species, but also for the local communities that highly depend on these valuable trees.
