Gaoué O.G.,2004. Impact of non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvest on the genetic diversity of harvested populations – Methodological approaches. 45th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany. University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. June 13 – 17, 2004. 
 
Abstract -- Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) play an important role in the livelihoods of millions of people around the world. Although the extraction of NTFPs is often assumed to be sustainable, the impact of NTFPs harvesting on the genetic diversity of harvested populations has hitherto received little attention. Genetic diversity is the source of speciation and evolutionnary potential for threatened populations and may also enhance the resistance of populations to environmental stochasticity. Therefore, understanding the way in which NTFP harvest shapes the present and future genetic structure of populations would provide valuable information for the ecological sustainability of NTFP extraction. To assess the effects of NTFP harvest on genetic diversity, populations with different NTFP harvesting intensities and histories should be surveyed to collect germplasm on young individuals (seedlings and saplings) and compare genetic parameters. For long-lived species, genetic parameters may be compared between young and adults individuals in each population to understand the dynamics of the genetic structure through time. Knowledge of the reproductive biology of the study species and the gene flow between populations is important to avoid drawing misleading conclusions about the impact of NTFPs harvesting on their genetic diversity. This method can be applied to Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae), a multi-use threatened tree species harvested in West Africa for its foliage, bark and timber. 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2004. Assessing the impact of non timber forest products harvest on African dry zone mahogany. 29th Annual Albert L.Tester Memorial Symposium. University of Hawai’i at Manoa, USA. March 11-12, 2004. 
 
Abstract-- Despite the importance of non timber forest products (NTFPs) for indigenous people as well as in international markets, the impact of their extraction has been overlooked by many scholars. Althought NTFP extraction has been considered a priori sustainable, several lines of evidence suggest the contrary. The different uses of Khaya senegalensis (African dry zone mahogany) by indigenous people in Benin (West Africa) provide an interesting case study to investigate the ecological impacts of NTFP harvest in tropical Africa using demographic as well as molecular genetic approaches. K. senegalensis is one of the rare fodder sources used by Fulani tribe to feed their livestock during the dry season. Dry season pruning pressure is so high that many trees fail to produce flower and fruit. This severely affects the regeneration capacity of populations. The rare seedlings that emerge from this harsh system are subject to fire and indiscriminate grazing, which constitute challenging factors for survival. Debarking for medicinal purposes along with the uncontrolled and illegal logging of the best trees, are serious additional threats for the long-term survival of Khaya senegalensis populations. To test for NTFP harvesting impacts on populations, they should be classified not only on the basis of present harvesting intensity but also on harvesting histories and techniques. In this study, to assess the impact of bark and foliage harvest on K. senegalensis populations dynamics, I will compare the values of the stochastic growth rate, extinction probabilities and vital rates among three groups of six populations with different harvest intensities and histories. I will also compare the genetic heterozygosity and differentiation parameters among the same groups of populations to test the impact of harvest on the genetic diversity. 
 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2003. Plant resources uses and management in West Africa. Invited lecture – Ethnobotany – University of Hawai’i at Manoa, USA. Nov. 21, 2003 
 
 
Menges E.S., Quintana-Ascencio P.F., Weekley C.W. & Gaoué O.G., 2003. Fire ecology and management for an endangered mint. 30th Natural Areas Conference: Defining a Natural Areas Land Ethic. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Sept. 24-27, 2003 
 
Abstract-- We use extensive demographic data (10 years, 7 populations, thousands of plants, 10 seed bank/germination experiments, 4 prescribed fires) to determine fire management needs for Dicerandra frutescens (scrub mint), a narrowly endemic, endangered Florida scrub plant. Scrub mint demographic patterns are driven mainly by fire. Although most plants are killed by fires, populations recover rapidly from a persistent seed bank. Recruitment, survival, and growth of plants is highest shortly after fire. Population growth rates (lambda) calculated from 79 stage-structured transition matrices are highest shortly after fire and decline sharply through 10 years postfire. Populations begin declining about 6 years postfire, probably related to rapid shrub growth. In long-unburned sites, populations declined at similar rates to sites 9-10 years postfire, suggesting some degree of persistence of scrub mint in long-unburned sites. Firelanes, road edges, and other disturbed areas also provide habitats where scrub mint populations may increase but such sites may not offer stable environments for species persistence. Prescribed fires will periodically decrease shrub cover and provide suitable microsites to assure the long-term persistence of scrub mint in the Florida scrub landscape. 
 
Quintana-Ascencio P.F., Menges E.S., Weekley C.W. & Gaoué O.G., 2003. Demographic variation with fire in an endemic mint. 88th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Savannah, Georgia, USA. Aug. 3 – 8, 2003 
 
Abstract-- We report analyses of the demography of the narrowly endemic, endangered Florida scrub mint Dicerandra frutescens based on data collected from 1988-2000. Data include survival, growth, and estimated fecundity of thousands of plants in 7 populations, as well as 10 seed bank/germination experiments. Demographic patterns are driven by fire. Finite rates of increase (lambda) calculated from 79 stage-structured transition matrices are highest shortly after fire and decline (fit with an inverse function) sharply through 10 years postfire. The break-even value of lamda =1 is passed quickly, in about 6 years postfire, suggesting that older populations are already facing decline. Population decline is probably related to rapid shrub growth in the habitat of D. frutescens. In long-unburned sites, finite rates of increase were negative (lamda< 1) but they were no lower than rates found in sites 9-10 years postfire, suggesting some degree of persistence of D. frutescens in long-unburned sites. Firelanes, road edges, and other disturbed areas also provide habitats for D. frutescens. In abandoned firelanes and an irrigated suburban site, finite rates of increase were often > one. However, such sites may not offer stable environments for species persistence. 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2003. Ethnoecology and genetics at crossroads: Some thoughts about the uses of Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae) by indigenous people in West Africa. First Fall Meeting Seminar for the UH Society of Ethnobiology. Univ. of Hawai’i at Manoa, USA. Sept. 8, 2003 
 
Abstract-- As a country undergoing climate changes, Benin is a place where herbaceous pasture are being dominated by annual species at the disavantage of perenial grass species. These last species are potentially the pasture of dry season, after wild bush fire have been lighted. But in a depleted pasture, fulani people rely on fooder tree species to feed their cattle during the harsh dry season. I dicussed how ethnoecological methods can be included in genetic studies to assess the ecological impact of harvesting non timber forest products. 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2003. Why not a population viability analysis (PVA) in Africa to help conserve genetic resources? Int’l Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), IITA - Benin. Aug. 7, 2003 
 
Abstract-- Africa is one of continent with the largest number of undangered species. From the rise of conservation biology as a discipline in 1980s to present, very few studies have been conducted on the population viability of even the most widely used and threathened species of the continent. In this presentation, I plea for more scientific involvment in assessing the risk to extinction of the top priority species of Africa. I shared my experiences in population viability analysis acquired in Dr Menges Lab in Florida, with colleagues from Universities and the International research centers in Benin. 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2003. Coping with a harsh environment: Population viability and microhabitat analysis for Dicerandra frutescens. Archbold Biological Station, Florida. USA July 10, 2003 
 
Abstract-- How does a rare species withstand extinction in a scrubby vegetation prone to fire? I investigate the way Dicerandra frutescens behave in Florida scrub, over years of fire or non fire. I assess the microhabitat of the species and compare the one of seedlings with adult microhabitat to see if there is any significant change in the microhabitat with time. I showed that the species has a specific microhabitat that varies with age. Dicerandra frutescens will last longer in Florida scrub, if the latter is burned every 9 years.  
 
Gaoué O.G.,2003. Harvested tree species conservation in Africa. Florida Ecology and Evolution Symposium. Lake Placid, Florida. USA. Apr. 11-13, 2003 
 
Abstract-- As the population is growing in developping countries and specifically in Africa, the need of people has been increasing. As such, increasing demand of non timber forest products as well as timber products call for an integrated management of populations that are harvested by indigenous people. In addition to local conservation strategies that need to be integrated in the species conservation scheme, we need to improve our understanding of the biology of the most important or priority species in Africa. Such basic information are lacking most of the time and this make decision making difficult. I suggested a plan of study for filling this gap, based on my research ideas for my Ph.D. 
 
Gaoué O.G.,2002. Parks zoning as sustainable management strategy for West African protected areas. 9th Meeting of the Benin Association for Pastoralism. Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 16, 2002 
 
Abstract-- The implementation of integral protection in the management of protected areas in developing countries failed. Under the umbrella of the Man and Biosphere Program of UNESCO, a new vision of biodiversity conservation through protected areas was born in order to reconcile the objectives of development of the bordering local populations and conservation: the Biosphere Reserve. Zoning is one of the main tools used to achieve these double goals. But this tool was regarded as a panacea and was for a long time applied simply to discriminate strict conservation areas, the areas for human activities for promoting the development at a local as well as national scale, and finally of the transitions areas. It is important nowadays, to maximize the role played by protected areas for the conservation of biodiversity and the development of local communities, to define in these ecosystems, zoning system according to the major management objectives which are common for most of the protected areas of West Africa: anti-poaching activities, efficient management of the pastureland, conservation of genetic diversity, ecotourism, etc. I present ideas about the definition of the technical framework for this type of zoning by objective. Particular attention is put on the elements to be considered to go successfully through such exercise. 
 
Eyog Matig O. & Gaoué O.G.,2002. Medicinal tree species in Sub Saharan Africa. Poster presented at the International workshop on sustainable trade and conservation of medicinal Plants Resources, Rabat, Morocco. May 2 – 4, 2002 
 
Abstract-- We presented a list of 36 most important tree species used as medicine in Sub-saharan Africa. The species were located in a map of Africa, with each species placed in the country where it most occurs. We reported the use of each species and put an emphasis on the diseases they are likely to cure given the number of time each of them has been cited in a recipe. 
 
Eyog-Matig O. & Gaoué O.G.,2001. Menaces et stratégies de conservation des espèces de plantes médicinales menacées au Bénin. Presented at the Benin First national fair on Biodiversity, Cotonou, Bénin. Nov. 28, 2001