Diversity and Conservation of Wild Food Plants in Chenene Miombo Woodland, Dodoma Rural District, Tanzania
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Date
2005-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
This study was done to assess the diversity and conservation of edible wild-food plants in Chenene
Miombo Woodland (CMW) in Dodoma Rural District, Central Tanzania. A total of 64 species of
plants representing 23 families were identified. Out of these, 31 were wild food plants, distributed in
20 families. Among the studied plant species, 48% were used for food. Most of these belong to the
families Caparidaceae and Fabaceae. The preferred species were Vitex donial/a Sweet, Tamarindlls
indica L. and StlycJlIlOS cocclIloides (Baker.). The wild food plants in CMW had a significant
difference (p<0.05) in growth forms in which the number of shrubs was significantly higher in both
lowland and mountain forest reserves whereas the unreserved forest had the lowest. Height and
diameter classes distribution indicated highest number of individuals in the lower classes and this
suggests that there is high rate ofreclUitment. The seedling and sapling densities of wild food plants
indicated significant difference (One-way ANOV A, P<0.05) in the three sites. The community type
analysis provided four (4) main types of communities named as Julbe/'lladia globiflora-Bmchystegia
bllssei. (Community I), Dichrostachys cinerea-Combretlllll zeyheri (Community II), COlI/bre/lIIn
zeyheri -Acacia negrescens (Community III) and Cordia lI/onoica-S/lycJmos coccliloides
(Community IV). The wild food plants distributed in all the community types showed that 26 (48%)
wild food plants were found in Community I, five species of wild food plants found in Community II,
seven plant species in Community III and 18 plant species of food plants found in Community IV.
The results on species diversity, ricimess and evenness showed a significant difference (One-way
ANOV A, P<0.05) among the communities in which diversity in community IV and I were much
higher than in communities II and III. The similarity index of wild food plants in all the studied
communities was 0.36 and the common species reflected to the similarity were Acacia negrescells
Oliver and A. senegal (L.) Willd. The results also revealed that the use of wild foods as a component
of local response to increasing food insecurity it has caused the declining trend of wild food. Several
conservation practices for wild food plants have been in place conteract this, including domestication
of wild food plants such as Tall/arindlls indica L. and Vi/ex doniana Sweet, in situ conservation and
protection in the farmlands and water sources. However, implementation of these practices has been
proved illusive due to the persistent drought, lack of conservation advisors, soil infertility as well as
due to lack of local institutions for resource management. All these signifY the lack of policy
favouring institutional development in conservation efforts. Therefore, there is a need of policy
reforms to emphasize recognition of local institutions, agroforeshy practices and creating awareness
on the significant roles of wild food plants in the area.
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Keywords
Wild Food Plants