Contribution of shea in reducing elephant damage to annual crops around the Niangoloko classified forest, Burkina Faso

Abstract

In order to limit crop losses caused by elephants during the agricultural season, this study set out to assess the contribution of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn.) in reducing elephant damage in an agricultural environment around the Niangoloko classified forest (FCN). To do this, we estimated the areas cultivated and those destroyed, by tracing the boundaries of the victim fields and the portion destroyed using GPS. The coordinates were processed using QGIS 2.18 software. In cases where elephants returned more than once, the crop yield was used as a reference for calculating losses. In the various fields, we counted the number of shea plants present. Out of a total of 664 fields spread over a total cumulative area of 2496.4 ha, a loss due to elephants of 54% was recorded between 2016 and 2018. Shea trees were present in 29% of the fields. The results of the GLM test showed that the rate of damage was negatively correlated with the percentage of shea trees uprooted. This study shows that the existence of V. paradoxa in elephant corridors could help reduce crop damage.