Tree Regeneration Protection

Environmental Issues Animal pressure on vegetation can affect trees and other ligneous plants. As these plants play an important role in the ecosystem functionning, special attention to trees must be given to protect the environment. Temporal exclosures protecting vegetation from grazing and browsing allow the trees to regenerate and grow high enough to escape the reach of animals. | Environmental Issues Objectives Techniques Targeted Livestock System Impact Context of Application References

Objectives

- Regeneration of tree population degraded due to overexploitation, overgrazing or bushfire.
- Improvement of biodiversitys
- Improvement in wood production, or forage availability.
- Protection of soil against erosion, improvement in soil fertility.

Techniques

- Protection against pressure of herbivores (grazing and browsing).
- Guarding or fencing.
- A minimum time is necessary to allow trees to recover and reach a sufficient size. This time is dependant on the tree species considered , soil and climate. Three years is a minimum in many situations.
- Acceptance and participation of the local population is essential

A range of solutions are possible

- Creating a fodder bank in the protected area, accesssible to a reduced number of farmers.
- Using a multiplication technique based on cuttings (large size cuttings: 5 to 10 cm diameter, 2 to 3 meter long), is more efficient than starting from seed, particularly the humid tropics. Protection is required for one year, rarely more, because the new plants are rapidly tall enough to withstand browsing.
- Required regrowth from suckers, is preferred especially in semi-arid zones. Plants from suckers grow quicker than those from seeds and maturity is earlier. Protection must last for 2 to 5 years according to the climatic conditions.

To ensure geniune motivation among farmers and pastoralists, the operation must involve the traditional leaders and provide perceptible advantages to the participants.

Targeted Livestock System

Grazing and mixed systems.

Grazing Systems

LGA | LGS1 | LGS2 | LGS3 | LGH1 | LGH2 | LGH3 | LGT1 | LGT2 | LGT3
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y

Mixed Systems

MCG | MCR | MCC | MFF | MEF
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y

Industrial Systems

IFP | IPL | IPG | IRM | IDU | ISL | ITN | IMP
N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N

Impact

- Positive environmental impact

- Vegetal and animal biodiversity.
- Improvement of microclimate.
- Improvement of wildlife habitat (birds, mammals, insects).
- Control of soil erosion.
- Soil improvement.

- Negative environmental impact

- Bird concentration and nesting in cropping areas.
- Bush encroachment hazard in humid tropics.
- Intermediate habitat for pests or undersirable animals.

- Livestock productivity impact

- Production of forage (tree leaves and fruits) available when grasslands are scarce (end of dry season in the tropics).
- Diet improvement for herbivores (good or high nitrogen content of tree leaves).
- Improvement of animal welfare by provision of shade in hot sunny regions.

Context of Application

- Capacity to protect areas against livestock (context of livestock intensification).
- Availability of pastoral resources out of the protected area.
- Diversified utilization of trees (wood, fruits, medicines, forage, antierosive action)

References

Jolin, D. and Torquebiau, E. 1992. Grandes boutures : pour un démarrage en flèche des plantations. L’agroforesterie aujourd’hui, 4, 4, 15-16.

Bellefontaine, R., Nicolini, E.A., and Petit, S. 1999. Réduction de l’érosion par l’exploitation de l’aptitude à drageonner de certains ligneux des zones tropicales sèches. Colloque “l’homme et l’érosion”, Yaoundé Cameroun, décembre 1999.

Aumeeruddy, Y. 1995. Phytopractices: indigenous horticultural approaches to plant cultivation and improvement in tropical regions. In : Warren D.M., Sikkerveer L.J. and Brokensha D. The cultural dimension development – Indigenous knowledge systems. Intermediate technology publication, pp. 582.

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