Traditional knowledge on tree characteristic and use for Agroforestry in Ghana By E. OwusuSekyere Fo

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Traditional knowledge on tree characteristic and
use for Agroforestry in GhanaByE.
Owusu-SekyereForestry Research Institute of
Ghana (FORIG)Kumasi
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Presentation Outline

• Introduction.
• Factors for trees on farms based on traditional
  knowledge.
• Some examples to buttress the potential
  application of TFK.
• Conclusions.

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INTRODUCTION

• Traditional method of farming has been the slash
  and burn and shifting cultivation.
• Some tree species are deliberately left on farms
  to serve different functions.
• Importance of the tree-crop associations has been
  known through long history of farming systems and
  the knowledge handed over to later generations.

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• Farmers wealth of knowledge about tree-crop
  associations are crucial for the development of
  agroforestry systems.
• Trees left on farms are normally selected based
  on several factors including
• 1. Tree characteristics and habit.
• 2. Tree canopy architecture, structure, texture,
  extent, etc in combination with crops.

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• 3. Ecological, biological engineering
  functions.
• 4. Traditional uses subsistence commercial.
• 5. The value of the tree parts. e.g., medicines,
  health, food, housing, fuelwood, religious, etc.
• 6. Hence, local names of plants and tree species
  are derived from functions, attributes, uses and
  other special characteristics.

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Tree characteristics and habit.

• Pioneer species are most preferred on farmlands.
• e.g. Milicia excelsa, Terminalia ivorensis, T.
  superba, Triplochiton scleroxylon.
• These trees have positive effect on soil
  fertility, soil-nutrient cycling and exhibit
  favourable interactions with crops.

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2. Tree canopy architecture, structure, texture,
extent, etc in combination with crops.

• e.g. Newbouldia laevis, Spathodea campanulata,
  Khaya senegalenses, etc.
• These species have narrower crowns or light
  canopies that allow sun rays to penetrate to
  reach the companion crops below for healthy
  growth.

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3. Ecological, biological engineering
functions.

• Most leguminous tree species fix nitrogen and are
  efficient in nutrient cycling e.g. Albizia zygia.
• For example, Cola nitida, citrus, avocado trees
  serve as insect host to control diseases. They
  are host to red ants that attack or feed on the
  virus that causes black pod disease in cocoa
  fruits thereby reducing the incidence of the
  disease.

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• Some tree species have been observed to maintain
  cool and moist environment during the dry season
  e.g. Ceiba pentandra and Spathodea campanulata.
• The soil environments close to the trees have
  been observed to be reasonably moist even during
  the peak of the dry season.
• The associated crops especially vegetables have
  been noted to do well under the trees.

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4. Traditional, cultural and religious uses

• Tree species used for traditional music industry
  like the talking drums e.g. Cordia millenii
  (Tweneboa).
• Before the introduction of cotton and other
  fabrics, the bark of Antiaris toxicaria
  (Kyenkyen) was used as clothing material.
• Tree species were and are still used as dyes
  (especially black and red colours) in the
  traditional garment industry e.g. Lannea
  welwitschii (Kumnini).

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• For every village in Akan, souls of the township
  members were preserved in clay pots mounted on
  Alstonia boonei (Nyame dua) posts and placed in
  the heart of the village for occasional
  sacrifices by the spiritual head.
• It is believed that where Okoubaka aubrevillei
  (Odii) tree species grows, dwarfs are associated
  with the area.
• O. aubrevillei fruit is believed that when kept
  under the bed drives away bad spirits e.g.
  Witches, ghosts, etc. From the room.

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5. The value of the tree parts

• Medicines
• The bark of Alstonia boonei (Nyame dua-Gods
  tree) is used to cure measles in children.
• Newbouldia laevis (sesemasa) is used in soup by
  lactating mothers to produce breast milk for
  babies.
• Mango leaves when macerated and dissolved in
  water is given to drunkards so as to reduce
  dizziness, etc.

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b) Housing

• Traditionally, roofing material (shingles) were
  made from Pycnanthus angolensis and used.
• Bamboos were split and used as roofing material.
• Hunters took shelter in very high and big
  buttresses e.g. Piptadeniastrum africanum local
  name is Odan (meaning house).

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c) Food and health

• The shea butter and Allanblackia parviflora tree
  species are very good sources of oils for
  cooking.
• Leaves of Adansonia digitata is used for stew.
• Roots of Musanga cecropioides and Ceiba pentandra
  were cut and the sap was drank when there was
  water shortage.

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• Cola nitida seeds (cola biscuits) eaten by adults
  to reduce hunger when food is not enough for all
  family member in poor families.
• The chewstick, Garcinia cola (Tweapea) is used to
  clean teeth. It is noted for its chemical
  properties to protect tooth decay and remove bad
  mouth odour.
• Lacosperma secundiflora (Ayemtudua) is known to
  reduce constipation when administered.

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d) Fuelwood

• Celtis species are treasured as highest quality
  firewood species in Ghana.
• Anogeisus leiocarpus is a good quality wood
  species for charcoal production. These tree
  species are probably dense, have higher energy
  (calorific value) woods that have been
  identified.
• Conversely, Ceiba species are rejected for
  firewood. This may be due to its higher moisture
  content, very light when dried and fibrous in
  texture.

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6. Naming or identification of plant species

• There are several characteristics, goods and
  services derived from tree species that offer
  clues to their identification and give rise to
  names of tee species.
• Has menthol taste (Zanthoxylon leprieurii , hence
  its name Oyaa (meaning pepper).
• Sweet taste when used as chewstick e.g.
  Craterispermum caudatum and therefore called
  Duade meaning sweet wood.

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• c) Has peppery taste e.g. Isolona campanulata and
  therefore called Duawisa.
• d) Milletia zechiana, a climber was used to tie
  up game from the bush by hunters to carry the
  booty home. It has therefore been known and
  called (sahoma) meaning rope for hunters.

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• The nomenclature of tree species from know
  characteristics
• Habitat - Mitragyna (Subaha) meaning where water
  is. It grows in marshy area.
• The scent - e.g. Cedrella odorata (Dua gene)
  smells like onion.
• Its history of discovery e.g. Canthium
  glabliflorum (wudifuo kete) murderers mat.
• Tricalysia discolor (Kwaebrofere) meaning
  forest pawpaw.

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Conclusion

• Tree species have characteristics on which
  nomenclatures in the local language are used for
  identifications and uses of the plant and its
  parts.
• The information on their renaissance must be
  documented.
• Local names in different languages may have
  similar meanings and may be useful for tree
  species identification, uses and forest
  management.

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Thank you for your attention