My research interest relates to the ecological impact assessment of harvesting non-timber forest products by indigenous people in Africa. Specifically, my research focuses on Khaya species in Benin. Khaya spp in Benin as well as in other places in Africa, are multipurpose species widely used by local people for their livelihood. For example, the foliage is palatable all year along and constitutes one of the rare sources of food for cattle during the dry season in West African pastureland. In Benin, particularly, pruning Khaya senegalensis is the activity of a specialized ethnic group call Fulani. Because the life of a Fulani is bound with the health of his herd, finding fodder is vital. In addition, pruning fodder tree is more than a simple activity of removing leaves of tree. It has cultural implications and that activity could not be replaced automatically by another one, no matter how well the function of supplying fodder is filled. In that context, it is highly important to look at the way pruning may impact the long term persistence of Khaya senegalensis. Moreover, Khaya spp are threatened species and deserve conservation through out their range, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.  
 
Other sources of threat to Khaya senegalensis are debarking and logging. In West Africa, and in Benin in particular, populations could not always afford buying western medicine or going to hospital when they are sick. They rely on nature, and specifically on medicinal plants to cure many diseases. In Burkina Faso, it is reported that about 90he populations use exclusively medicinal plants for their medical care. One species can be used for many remedies. Accordingly, the species constitutes a ‘wealth', a 'drugstore'. Khaya species are among those plants, and it is reported to cure about 55 diseases in Benin. The bark of Khaya senegalensis is the main organ harvested by local people to cure Malaria and even mystical diseases. According to the World Heath Organization (WHO) statistics, malaria remains among the top devastating diseases occurring in Africa today. There are at least 300 millions acute cases of malaria each year globally, resulting in more than a million deaths; and around 90hese deaths occur in Africa, with an estimated cost of more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP in the continent. Mystical diseases are another reality in Africa. In Benin, where voodoo is the main religion, mystical diseases are part of every day life problem for people. Accordingly, the use of Khaya senegalensis and other plant species to ensure health and protection is of paramount importance. Debarking of took place in the country and even in plantations, many individuals are severely debarked. Many individuals are at the same time debarked and pruned.  
 
There is a competition between different activities related to Khaya species. As one of the main timber species in Africa, logging of Khaya senegalensis is an economic activity, where lot of people and sometimes a whole family is involved. In the central part of Benin, exploratory investigations revealed that people involved in logging complains that pruning and debarking activities decrease the timber value of Khaya senegalensis. At the same time, Fulani complains that Khaya senegalensis individuals are becoming rare because of the logging activities. Both logging and pruning are not legal activities.  
 
As a consequence of all this, the trend of Khaya senegalensis populations did not suggest any sustainable management. At least, based on the diameter distribution study that had been carried out on Khaya senegalensis, there is evidence of poor regeneration for this species. Many individuals fail to produce flower and fruits. We need to know how these activities are threatening the persistence of Khaya senegalensis populations and what could be the sustainable harvesting limits. My research aims to use matrix models (demographic studies) and genetic diversity studies, and cultural considerations to address this need.