Usages Sociaux Des Rameaux Et Exploitation Durable De Raphia Sudanica Dans Le Sud-Est Du Benin

Abstract

The communities of southeastern Benin use the different organs of Raphiasudanica for social, medicinal, ritual, cultural, religious, etc. purposes. As a result, this species is subject to anthropic pressure and is at risk of extinction in this environment. The objective of this research is to describe the social uses of the branches of Raphiasudanica which influence its sustainable exploitation in the South-East of Benin. It adopted a qualitative approach and relied on in-depth interviews, group discussions, direct observations and documentary analysis. The symbolic interactionism of H. Blumer revisited by L. Lacaze is the theoretical model used for the analysis of the results. The results reveal that the branches of Raphiasudanica are used by local social groups for economic, religious, medicinal and security purposes. The users of these organs are not concerned about the way in which the branches are used in the environment. The degree of destruction of a tree species is a function of its value to local social groups in the vicinity or the multiplicity of its use by them. In Western Cameroon, raffia palm groves are the raw material of craftsmen and a whole civilization, which feeds on raffia wine and articles made from raffia palm groves, is gradually disappearing. The social uses of the twigs from this plant thus contribute to its progressive destruction because its exploitation is not such as to ensure its sustainability.