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Background The perception of illness and health-seeking behaviours, including rabies differ from one culture to another. Depending on the cultural setting of the society in which people live, the definition of the causal factors of illness may range from natural biological causes to supernational causes which greatly influence subsequent health-seeking behaviour. To ensure best health practices and plan effective health interventions for the control of dog-mediated-human rabies, we explored how school children and adult communities perceive and respond to illnesses, including rabies in southern Bhutan. Methods We collected quantitative data related to the causes of illness and health-seeking practices of school children using a questionnaire survey (QS). Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with older members of communities (≥ 18 years) that work closely with school children. Descriptive analysis was performed for the quantitative data and thematic analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Results The participants during the FDGsand IDIshave linked the illnesses to past actions, spirits, energy channels, planetary movement, sorcery, black magic, food, physical or environmental factors, individual habits and social factors. The survey of the school children reported microorganisms (75%), past actions (16.8%), spirits (9.6%) and black magic (9.1%) as causal factors for illnesses. Health seeking behaviours reported by the participants included visiting hospitals, performing spiritual or religious rituals and local treatments. Similarly, school children also mentioned that illnesses can be treated by visiting hospitals (98%), performing rituals (59.1%), and seeking traditional treatments practices (18.8%). Both school children and adult members of the communities that we interviewed were well aware on the causes of rabies and need for allopathic treatments rather than seeking spiritual or local treatments. Conclusion There is a need for the consideration of the socio-cultural context in the planning and implementation of health-related policies, including the rabies prevention programs in Bhutan, by involving traditional healers and religious entities with “One Health” public health sectors.

International audience; 1. Interactions between farmers and agrobiodiversity are key drivers of agroeco-systems sustainability and of the resilience of such systems to perturbations, but research into the human/nature interactions have overlooked some important aspects of agrobiodiversity management. In particular, farmers' ecological knowledge of the spatial organisation of plant diversity remains an open question, although knowledge and practices have major implications for the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.2. Our study addresses this question by analysing how farmers spatially organise plant species in agroforests based on their knowledge of species interactions and interactions with the environment. The Analanjirofo region on the north-east coast of Madagascar provides an interesting context to explore this issue in clove-based agroforests, as these systems were developed by farmers as a sustainable alternative to the traditional system of shifting rice cultivation.3. Using an emic approach, that is based on the farmers' perspective, and participatory mapping, we studied plant diversity and its spatial organisation in 17 clove-based agroforests and in 28 management sub-units defined by farmers in a village of Vavatenina district. The plant functions and farmers' knowledge of plant interactions with clove tree were recorded in semi-structured interviews, and the interactions were represented in a cognitive map.4. Farmers manage more than 50 plant species associated with diverse functions. Analysis of participatory maps identified four main types of species association as a function of the age of the clove trees and the associated plant diversity, and different spatial organisation patterns as a function of the topography and the surrounding species. Analysis of farmers' knowledge provided valuable insights into spatial organisation practices, how farmers perceive the adaptation of plant species to biophysical heterogeneity of the environment and whether they can be associated with other species.5. Our findings and methods pave the way for further interdisciplinary research on farmers/nature interactions to support the development of agrobiodiversity-based systems taking into account farmer and scientific knowledge and practices, especially in the tropics where the expansion of cash crops in input-intensive and mono-cropping systems has driven major disruptions to smallholder agriculture.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an essential crop in Papua New Guinea, especially in the highlands where taro grows at high altitudes (above 2,000 m) and sweet potato is absent. Taro and its cultivation are part of the collective memory of the Oksapmin society, in Sandaun province. The creation, maintenance, and harvest of a taro garden follow elaborate techniques and rules, the knowledge of which is not universal among villagers. This article describes the making of a taro garden by Oksapmin cultivators. The process is divided into two parts: activities related to the “mother garden”, where cuttings for the garden-to-be must be harvested, along with activities and techniques involved in preparing the new taro garden. The author discusses the significance of taro gardens in Oksapmin society.

In the tropics, the reduction in fallow periods in shifting rice cultivation and deforestation have led to soil degradation. How crop diversity is managed by farmers to adapt to this change remains poorly studied. Our study in Madagascar focuses on the management of 38 species in agroforestry, a practice that was gradually adopted by Betsimisaraka farmers to replace shifting rice cultivation. We describe how farmers perceived changes in the soil and how they adapted their farming practices to these changes, and analyze their knowledge of the interactions between the different plant species and the soil (soil-agrobiodiversity interactions) that underlie these adaptations. The farmers' perceptions of changes in the soil, their causes and consequences, were recorded in 19 individual interviews and three focus groups. Farmers' knowledge of soil-agrobiodiversity interactions was recorded in 84 individual surveys and one focus group. Farmers grouped soils in two main classes according to the topography and used four criteria to characterize them. The main change in the soil they observed was the decline in soil fertility due to deforestation. In response to these changes, farmers changed their crop species and management practices (e.g., spatial organization of crops, fertilization, species associations). These adaptations are based on shared knowledge of the soil requirements of crop species and their effect on fertility, despite the recent adoption of agroforestry. Our study highlights the dynamic and holistic dimension of farmers' knowledge of the soil and its interactions with different plant species.

In the dry areas of western Africa, the over-exploitation of forestry resources and the lack of tree regeneration lead to the degradation of agroforestry parklands. Such parklands could be better managed if the multiple services provided by the trees were well identified and valorized. However, there is little information on the local knowledge of' tree species regarding their functions, uses and services. Likewise, local stakeholders' perceptions of the relation between the species aptness for the above functions and uses and their functional traits is not well known. This study focuses on local knowledge of tree species in parklands of the Segou region in Mali, in order to identify specific uses or multifunctionalities that could be highlighted in improving agroforestry systems. Qualitative surveys have been carried out to identify users' perceptions of tree functions and functional traits. Findings show the possibility of classifying species by relevant functional groups, i.e. woody/timber trees, fruit/cash crop trees and trees related to livestock. Functional traits were not easily identified by farmers and the related information was difficult to analyze. Moreover, the perception of functions and traits depended on user groups (craftsmen, crop farmers, livestock farmers, traditional health practitioners, women etc.) and on agro-environmental and socio-economic contexts (activities, knowledge, means and practices). Therefore, scientific databases composed of lists of functions and traits for a given species have no generic value and must be valued depending on the context which may or may not enhance the substitutions between species for each use.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plays a key role in family farming systems in Senegal. It makes an essential contribution to economic, nutritional and food security. Although it is crucial, little is known about how farmers classify the diversity of local varieties or about the social practices associated with them. The aim of this study is to characterize the farming practices associated with growing cowpea in Senegal. Surveys were conducted involving 335 rural farmers living in 37 villages, spread across seven regions that produce cowpea. An average of ten farmers were randomly selected in each village. The results reveal that cowpea is a key feature of cropping systems in the studied area. Our findings highlight the high diversity of local cowpea varieties with 59 local names inventoried. In 75% of cases, the name refers to the seed’s morphology or color. Cowpea production is more diverse in Diourbel and Louga and less diverse in the south. More than half the farmers (57%) acquired their cowpea seeds (early, semi-early and late maturity varieties) outside their village, either from markets, seed suppliers or NGOs. This new understanding of farmers’ expertize in the management of cowpea and its local variability will help to valorize local diversity in breeding programs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13002-022-00506-y.

Desde la década de 1990, el estado de Amapá ha invertido en el desarrollo territorial sostenible basado en la valorización económica de los productos de la sociobiodiversidad y el reconocimiento de los conocimientos asociados a estos recursos, mantenidos por los pueblos y comunidades tradicionales (PCT). Este modelo de desarrollo endógeno se produjo en sinergia con la dinámica global de la política federal brasileña, así como de los mercados mundiales. El artículo cuestiona el papel de varios factores, empezando por el papel de las poblaciones tradicionales en el éxito del mercado del açaí, que hoy se reconoce como catalizador del desarrollo territorial sostenible. A partir de un análisis reflexivo de tres experiencias en diferentes partes del estado (Mazagão, Bailique, Oiapoque), los autores muestran diferentes estrategias que relacionan a los pueblos tradicionales con el mercado según su proximidad (geográfica y social) y grado de organización colectiva. Estrategias en las que se necesitan instrumentos de financiación públicos o privados e que se movilizan de diferentes maneras (PGPM-Bio en las comunidades ribereñas cercanas a la capital, PNGATI en las tierras indígenas, fondos privados en las comunidades ribereñas de Bailique), con el fin de reforzar las dinámicas sociales internas. La informalidad sigue debilitando fuertemente la posición de los pueblos y comunidades tradicionales en todos los segmentos de la cadena, pero abre espacios para la consolidación de los mercados locales y, por tanto, de la soberanía alimentaria. Desde os anos 1990 o estado do Amapá apostou num desenvolvimento territorial sustentável a partir da valorização econômica dos produtos da sociobiodiversidade e do reconhecimento dos saberes associados a estes recursos e detidos pelos povos e comunidades tradicionais (PCT). Este modelo de desenvolvimento endógeno se deu em sinergia com as dinâmicas globais na política federal brasileira, assim como dos mercados globais. O artigo questiona o papel de diversos fatores, a começar pelo papel das populações tradicionais, no sucesso do mercado do açaí, que hoje é reconhecido como um catalisador de desenvolvimento territorial sustentável. A partir de uma análise reflexiva de três experiências em diferentes localidades do Estado (Mazagão, Bailique, Oiapoque), as autoras mostram distintas estratégias relacionando populações tradicionais com o mercado, em função de proximidades (geográficas e sociais) e grau de organização coletiva. Estratégias nas quais os instrumentos de fomento públicos ou privados são necessários e mobilizados de forma diferenciada (PGPM-Bio nas comunidades ribeirinhas na proximidade da Capital, PNGATI nas Terras Indígenas, Fundos privados nas comunidades ribeirinhas do Bailique), apenas para reforçar dinâmicas sociais internas. A informalidade fragiliza ainda fortemente a posição dos povos e comunidades tradicionais em todos os elos da cadeia, porém, abre espaços para consolidação dos mercados locais e (assim) para a soberania alimentar. Since the 1990s, the state of Amapá has invested in sustainable territorial development based on the economic valorisation of sociobiodiversity products, the recognition of the knowledge associated with these resources and held by traditional populations and communities (PCT). This model of endogenous development occurred in synergy with global dynamics in Brazilian federal policy, as well as in global markets. The article questions the role of several factors starting with the role of traditional populations in the success of the açaí market, which today is recognized as a catalyst for sustainable territorial development. Based on a reflexive analysis of three experiences in different parts of the state (Mazagão, Bailique, Oiapoque), the authors show different strategies relating traditional populations to the market according to their proximity (geographical and social) and degree of collective organization. Strategies in which public or private funding instruments are needed and mobilised in different ways (PGPM-Bio in riverside communities near the capital, PNGATI in indigenous lands, private funds in riverside communities in Bailique), in order to reinforce internal social dynamics. The informality still strongly weakens the position of the traditional populations and communities in all links of the chain, but opens spaces for consolidation of local markets, and thus food sovereignty.

BACKGROUND A poorly organised risk management system may dysfunction when used. The consequences can be dramatic for those supposed to be protected. Since the 1960s, preventive control strategies, with field officers as living memory, have been developed to monitor locusts. Preserving their experience of past plagues is consequently essential. Wrong use of their knowledge can disrupt the whole management chain. We explored these conditions using a multi-agent model representing a preventive system. We simulated how the field teams' tendency to repeatedly visit past outbreak areas (hotspots) by allocating them an attraction weight can help in preventing plagues. RESULTS When field teams' attention remained constant over time, there was dramatic decrease in the number of plagues, with increasing interest in hotspots, as long as interest was less than 2.5 times more than elsewhere. When the field teams were only attentive during recession times, plagues were better controlled using a low weight for hotspots. The spatial structure of hotspot distribution had an effect: the more frequent and the bigger the hotspots, the lower the optimal hotspot weighting needed to reduce plagues. CONCLUSION Orienting surveys towards hotspots particularly during recession times reduces plagues. The spatial structure of locust habitats may influence the way they are managed. Habitats located outside the multiple hotspots of species such as the desert locust should be visited more frequently than those with only one hotspot, such as the South American locust. The decline/loss of the field officers' experience highlights the need to save, capitalise and disseminate this knowledge. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how communities engaged in the valorisation of origin food through Geographical Indications (GIs) and Slow Food Presidia can be resilient to changing conditions and able to innovate their practices. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the concept of “community of practices” (CoP) to explore the learning processes occurring in three origin cheese initiatives located in France and Morocco. Findings Learning processes surpass the border of the governing body and encompass competitors and consumers. Discrepancies between what is codified and what is done lead to a dynamic redefinition of both specifications and communities. Such initiatives are frameworks for envisioning possible futures emerging from controversies. Originality/value This paper compares two localised agrofood systems initiatives (GIs and Slow Food Presidia), based on evidence from two European and an African cases. The analytical frame of “CoP” sheds light on the underestimated dynamic effect of controversies on knowledge.

International audience; So Close Yet So Different: Cultural Differences among Farmers in Central Kenya Affect Their Knowledge of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) Landrace Identification. Whether knowledge of landrace identification is shared among farmers in rural societies is a matter of debate in crop diversity research, and the influence of culture on knowledge heterogeneity remains largely misunderstood. This study analyzes the heterogeneity of farmers' knowledge of crop landrace identification, and investigates factors involved in its patterns. It especially explores the effect of cultural differences by comparing how three ethnolinguistic groups identify and name sorghum diversity in the Mount Kenya region. A set of 293 panicles representing sorghum diversity in the study area was presented for identification to 96 farmers randomly selected in the three groups. A subset of 287 panicles was scored for morphological characteristics using 16 qualitative descriptors, and neutral genetic diversity of 170 of them was described using 18 SSR genetic markers. Distance-based analyses were applied to analyze knowledge patterns within and between groups and to describe the structure of sorghum morphological and genetic diversity. Results show that the degree of heterogeneity of knowledge among farmers varies strongly according to both their ethnolinguistic membership and panicle characteristics, despite their high geographic proximity. The effect of farmers' experience of landraces and of pathways for social learning on inter-individual variations of knowledge is discussed.

New Guinea is the world’s largest, most speciose, and most culturally rich tropical island, and the little-studied Mamberamo Basin of Papua (Indonesian New Guinea) is recognised among the region’s most-important areas for biological diversity. Here, we examined the floodplain forests in the indigenous territory of Papasena, within the Mamberamo-Foja Wildlife Reserve in the Mamberamo Basin. As part of a training activity with local researchers, students, and civil servants, and with the permission and assistance of the local people, we employed various methods including the field surveys detailed here. We used variable-area tree plots, transects for non-trees and soil sampling, and local informants to document 17 plots: four in old-growth dryland forest, five in old-growth swamp forests (two seasonally flooded and three permanently wet including one dominated by sago, Metroxylon sagu Rottb.), five in secondary forest (fallows), and three in gardens (two in swamps and one on dryland). In total, we measured 475 trees over 10 cm in diameter at 1.3 m (dbh). The swamp forests had high local basal areas (highest value 45.1 m2 ha−1) but relatively low statures (20 m but with emergent trees over 40 m). In total, 422 morphospecies from 247 genera and 89 different families were distinguished. These included 138 tree species and 284 non-tree plant species. A quarter (105) of the morphospecies lacked species-level identifications. The woody families Rubiaceae, Araceae, Moraceae, and Euphorbiaceae were especially diverse, with 20 or more morphospecies each. Tree richness was highest in dryland forest (plot 7 having 28 species in 40 stems over 10 cm dbh) with more variation in the flooded forests. Non-tree vegetation showed similar patterns ranging from 65 species in one 40-by-5 m primary forest plot to just 5 in one seasonally flooded forest plot. The local people identified many plants as useful. Among trees, at least 59 species were useful for construction (the most common use), while, for non-trees, medicinal uses were most frequent. Inceptisols dominated (12 plots), followed by Ultisols and Entisols (3 and 2 plots, respectively). Drainage appeared poor and nutrient availability low, while land-suitability criteria implied little potential for crops aside from sago. We discuss the implication of local practises and more recent developments that may threaten the conservation of these floodplain systems. We underline the key role of local people in the oversight and protection of these ecosystems.

Origin food schemes (OFS) aim to protect and promote a unique product resulting from a specific place and know-how whose qualities are objectified in the product specifications. This paper explores the standardisation effects of OFS on the diversity of local practices and knowledge by analysing the emergence of the specifications of four origin cheeses recognised as Geographical Indications and Slow Food Presidia (Chefchaouen goat cheese in Morocco, Piacentinu Ennese in Italy, and Bearn mountain cheese and Ossau-Iraty in France). Results confirm that specifications directly preserve some genetic resources, taste, and know-how, whilst they also show that traditional production practices are taken into account differently, depending on negotiations among stakeholders during which opposing motives, strategies, and forms of knowledge may emerge. We argue that paradoxically this process results in adapting and reducing existing diversity, including in OFS that are more oriented towards localising practices and promoting a diversity of tastes.

International audience; L’agroforesterie, qui associe des arbres aux cacaoyers, apparaît comme une option crédible pour renouveler la cacaoculture en Afrique. La culture pure de cacaoyers, dominante, y est en effet à bout de souffle. Il est donc urgent d’identifier des solutions techniques pour stabiliser les zones cacaoyères, réduire la tension sur les forêts et s’adapter à l’évolution du climat. Un équilibre peut être trouvé entre les cacaoyers et un panachage d’arbres choisis par les agriculteurs pour leurs usages variés, tout en maintenant un rendement en cacao convenable sur le long terme. Cet équilibre assure aussi des services écologiques comme le stockage du carbone et la protection phytosanitaire. Des travaux récents menés au Cameroun montrent que le pilotage des cacaoyères agroforestières peut s’appuyer sur un indicateur simple, la mesure de la surface terrière des cacaoyers et celle des arbres associés. Cet indicateur pourrait être adopté pour la certification du cacao durable, tandis que la convergence constatée entre savoirs locaux et résultats scientifiques pourrait aider à co-construire les conseils techniques.

International audience; Combining mixed trees with cocoa trees in so-called cocoa agroforestry systems is emerging as a viable option for regenerating cocoa cropping in Africa. Pure cocoa crop stands currently prevail in these areas but are running out of steam. Technical solutions are therefore urgently needed to stabilize cocoa-growing areas, reduce pressure on forests and adapt to climate change. A balance can be struck in stands by combining cocoa trees with diverse trees chosen by farmers for their different uses, while maintaining a suitable and sustainable cocoa yield. Ecological services such as carbon storage and crop protection are co-benefits of this balance. Recent research in Cameroon highlights that cocoa agroforestry stands can be managed using a straightforward indicator—measurement of the basal area of cocoa trees and associated trees. This indicator could be adopted for sustainable cocoa production certification purposes, while the observed convergence between local know-how and scientific results could facilitate joint drawing up of technical recommendations.

The cultural universe is sometimes confusing, surprising and murky, so many cultural maps get drawn, discussed and envisioned. A study was undertaken around Mabira Forest Reserve in central Uganda to identify the trees and shrubs culturally managed on-farm, assess the cultural practices of forest and tree system management and determine the relationship between farmer gender and forest and tree system management. We engaged 203 farmers in focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. Qualitative data were jointly evaluated with farmers; quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS 20.0. The results showed a high likelihood for involvement of local people in tree or forest management for economic gain, as timber and fast-growing species were highly ranked. Food and medicinal species were also regarded as important, suggesting high prospects of integrating them into the local farming system or protecting them in the forest. Numerous cultural practices (including rituals, trenching, bark slashing, ring barking, spot weeding and use of organic manure and pesticides) of forest and tree system management were acknowledged. However, their knowledge was mixed and unclear about distinct cultural and supportive arrangements for natural forest and tree restoration. While gender was not a significant cultural attribute for knowledge of the forest and allied tree system management, age substantially affected farmer propensity for various timber products. Also farmer’s family size influenced the collection of tree wildings and fodder. We encourage considering gender disparities and livelihood needs including income, during selection of cultural practices for forest and tree restoration.

International audience; La agroforestería, que asocia árboles con cacaoteros, parece ser una opción posible para renovar el cultivo del cacao en África. El cultivo puro de árboles de cacao, dominante, no es sostenible y el potencial productivo disminuye con el tiempo. Por lo tanto, es urgente encontrar soluciones técnicas que estabilicen las áreas de cultivo de cacao, reduzcan la presión sobre los bosques y se adapten al cambio climático. Se puede encontrar un equilibrio entre los árboles de cacao y una mezcla de árboles escogidos por los agricultores para sus diversos usos, manteniendo al mismo tiempo un rendimiento de cacao adecuado a largo plazo. Este equilibrio también asegura servicios ecológicos como el almacenamiento de carbono y la protección fitosanitaria. Un trabajo reciente llevado a cabo en Camerún muestra que el manejo de las plantaciones de cacao agroforestales puede basarse en un indicador simple, la medición del área basal de los árboles de cacao y la de los árboles asociados. Este indicador podría ser adoptado para la certificación de cacao sostenible, mientras que la convergencia observada entre el conocimiento local y los resultados científicos podría ayudar a construir conjuntamente el asesoramiento técnico.

Research Highlights: Global coffee production, especially in smallholder farming systems, is vulnerable and must adapt in the face of climate change. To this end, shaded agroforestry systems are a promising strategy. Background and Objectives: Understanding local contexts is a prerequisite for designing locally tailored systems, this can be achieved by utilizing farmers&rsquo, knowledge. Our objective is to explore ecosystem services (ESs) provided by different shade tree species as perceived by farmers and possible factors (elevation, gender, and membership in local farmers groups) influencing these perceptions. We related these factors, as well as farmers&rsquo, ESs preferences, to planting densities of tree species. Materials and Methods: During interviews with 263 small-scale coffee farmers on the southern slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro, they ranked the most common shade tree species according to perceived provision of the locally most important ESs for coffee farmers. We asked them to estimate the population of each tree species on their coffee fields and to identify the three ESs most important for their household. Results: Food, fodder, and fuelwood emerged as the most important ESs, with 37.8% of the respondents mentioning all three as priorities. Density of tree species perceived to provide these three ESs were significantly higher for farmers prioritizing these services compared to farmers that did not consider all three ESs in their top three. Albizia schimperiana scored the highest for all rankings of regulatory ESs such as coffee yield improvement, quality shade provision, and soil fertility improvement. Influence of elevation, gender, and farmer group affiliation was negligible for all rankings. Conclusions: This study shows the need to understand factors underlying farmers&rsquo, management decisions before recommending shade tree species. Our results led to the upgrade of the online tool (shadetreeadvice.org) which generates lists of potential common shade tree species tailored to local ecological context considering individual farmers&rsquo, needs.

Le changement climatique représente une menace potentielle majeure pour la viabilité des ménages ruraux d’Afrique subsaharienne qui vivent principalement de l’exploitation des ressources naturelles. Cette étude a pour but d’analyser les perceptions des producteurs agricoles du changement climatique, ses impacts sur l’environnement, les stratégies d’adaptation et les relations qui existent entre ces différents aspects. Des enquêtes ont été réalisées au travers de discussions de groupes et d’un questionnaire individuel administré à 300 ménages dans le Centre-nord du Burkina Faso. Un modèle Logit binaire a permis d’identifier les facteurs qui influencent les perceptions locales du changement climatique et le choix des stratégies d’adaptation. L’étude montre que les producteurs perçoivent une baisse des pluies (76,7 %), une hausse des températures (97 %) et des vents violents (98,7 %). Le niveau d’éducation du chef de ménage, la taille, l’appartenance à une organisation paysanne et le nombre de bovins déterminent cette perception. La dégradation des terres se traduit essentiellement par des sols dénudés, la réduction des ligneux et la faiblesse des rendements agricoles. Les principales stratégies d’adaptation sont l’adoption des techniques de conservation des eaux et des sols (CES), la possession de fosses fumières, l’irrigation et l’adaptation variétale. Les facteurs déterminants de cette adaptation sont la possession de pioches et de pelles, l’appartenance à une organisation paysanne, la formation en technologies agricoles et l’accès au crédit. L’adoption d’une stratégie d’adaptation par un producteur dépend de sa perception du changement climatique et de ses causes, ses impacts négatifs sur l’environnement et des moyens disponibles pour apporter des solutions., Climate change represents a major potential threat to the viability of rural households in sub-Saharan Africa who live mainly from the exploitation of natural resources. The purpose of this study is to analyze farmers’ perceptions of climate change, its environmental impacts, coping strategies and the relationships between them. Surveys were conducted through group discussions and an individual questionnaire administered to 300 households in north-central Burkina Faso. A Logit binary model identified factors that influence local perceptions of climate change and the choice of adaptation strategies. The study shows that farmers perceive a decrease in rainfall (76.7 %), a rise in temperatures (97 %) and strong winds (98.7 %). The determinant factors of this perception are education level of the household head, household size, belonging to a peasant organization and number of cattle. Land degradation mainly results in bare soils, reduced woody vegetation and low agricultural yields. The main adaptation strategies are the adoption of water and soil conservation techniques (WSCT), possession of manure pits, irrigation and the use of adapted varieties. The determining factors of this adaptation are the availability of picks and shovels, belonging to a peasant organization, training in agricultural technologies and access to credit. The adoption of an adaptation strategy by a farmer depends of his perception of climate change and its causes, its negative impacts on the environment and the means available to provide solutions.

Stewardship offers a means of addressing social-ecological sustainability challenges, from the local to the global level. The concept of stewardship has had various meanings attached to it over time, and the links between the theory and practice of stewardship are not well understood. We sought to characterise the practice of stewardship in South Africa, to better understand the relationship between theory and practice. We found that practitioners’ understandings of stewardship coalesce around two core notions: the idea of stewardship as ‘responsible use and care’ of nature, and stewardship as a ‘balancing act’ between stewards’ use of natural resources for agricultural production and their responsibility to protect and manage the wider ecosystem. Stewardship practice in South Africa is strongly influenced by the biodiversity stewardship tool; however, many practitioners are integrating biodiversity stewardship with other approaches. These emerging social-ecological stewardship initiatives operate at landscape-level and work towards integrated social and ecological stewardship outcomes, by facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Further research is needed to better understand what is required to support these integrated, collaborative and cross-sectoral initiatives. Policy mechanisms that facilitate integrated place-based stewardship practice can contribute to expanding the practice of biodiversity stewardship in South Africa. Significance: Our findings contribute to a growing understanding of what stewardship looks like in South Africa and how it is put into practice. We show that biodiversity stewardship is a prevalent understanding of stewardship practice in South Africa and is often combined with other approaches for sustainable landscape management. A broader understanding of stewardship, for example through the concept of social-ecological stewardship, can enable more integrated, collaborative approaches to landscape management, addressing the wide range of environmental and social development challenges faced in rural landscapes across South Africa.

International audience; The historical, social, and economical importance of precolonial connections between Africa and the rest of the world has been undervalued. In the present study, we use crops as historical and social markers to analyze intercontinental connections from the perspective of Kenyan and Ugandan regions northeast of Lake Victoria. Crops were inventoried in 148 small farms from 74 localities, using successively free listing, to reveal their socio-cultural salience, and a closed list method, for a more complete picture of the agricultural, environmental and social diversity. The total sample included 75 crops (30 African, 21 Asian, 21 American, and 3 European). Among farms, crop richness varied from 6 to 32. It was higher in Uganda than in Kenya, and lowest around the Winam Gulf. The 12 American crops introduced at Renaissance were uniformly distributed, and the observed structure was mostly due to differences in African and Asian crop richness. In terms of crop frequency, exotic crops account for 74%, with 46% for American crops. The 14 most frequent crops included 10 from America, 3 from Asia, and 1 for Africa, with negligible differences among linguistic groups. Consistently, the free listing citation order demonstrated the high cultural salience of American crops. The spatial distribution of minor crops suggest differential diffusion among linguistic groups, which could be further studied using linguistic approaches on crop names.

Coffee agroforestry systems deliver ecosystem services (ES) critical for rural livelihoods like food but also disservices that constrain livelihoods like fostering coffee-pests. Since such ES are tree-based, maximizing ES and limiting constraints requires knowledge on optimizing on-farm tree composition especially trees adapted to local conditions. The study was in three sites along a rainfall gradient in Central Uganda where we: assessed tree diversity in coffee agroforestry; ranked tree suitability for providing ES according to farmers’ knowledge; and then proposed an approach for optimizing on-farm tree composition for delivery of ES. We collected data on tree diversity and, farmers’ knowledge of tree species and the ES they provide. Farmers ranked ES in order of importance to their livelihoods (‘Needs rank’) and ranked trees according to suitability for providing ES. Using Bradley Terry modeling, we grouped trees into ‘ES groups’ according to suitability for providing different ES and ranked ‘ES groups’ according to tree diversity (‘Diversity rank’). Tree-suitability for providing ES and importance of ES to farmers varied with rainfall regime but tree diversity did not match farmers’ needs for ES. We propose the FaD–FaN (matching farm tree diversity to farmers’ needs) approach for optimizing tree species composition with respect to tree-suitability for farmers’ priority ES. Farmers locally prioritize ES needed and identify trees that best serve such ES. The approach then focuses on modifying on-farm tree diversity to match/suit farmers’ priority ES. The FaD–FaN approach caters for varying socio-ecological conditions; it’s adaptable for other coffee and cocoa-growing areas worldwide.

National audience

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552 Digital object identifier for the 'European Research Council' (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000781) ; Digital object identifier for 'Horizon 2020' (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007601) Bringing insights from Indigenous and local knowledge into climate change research requires addressing the transferability, integration, and scalability of this knowledge. Using a review of research on place-based observations of climate change impacts, we explore ways to address these challenges. Our search mostly captured scientist-led qualitative research, which - while facilitating place-based knowledge transferability to global research - did not include locally led efforts documenting climate change impacts. We classified and organized qualitative multi-site place-based information into a hierarchical system that fosters dialogue with global research, providing an enriched picture of climate change impacts on local social-ecological systems. A network coordinating the scalability of place-based research on climate change impacts is needed to bring Indigenous and local knowledge into global research and policy agendas.