Distribution and Distribution and Conservation Status of Conservation Status of Prunus africanaPrunus africana in Ethiopia: in Ethiopia: opportunities and opportunities and constraintsconstraints

Gemedo Dalle (PhD) Gemedo Dalle (PhD) gemedod@yahoo.comgemedod@yahoo.com

IntroductionIntroductionnn Prunus africanaPrunus africana is native to the montane is native to the montane

tropical forests of Subtropical forests of Sub--Saharan Africa and Saharan Africa and Madagascar Madagascar –– is a geographically widespread tree in is a geographically widespread tree in

mainland Africa and outlying islands.mainland Africa and outlying islands.

Prunus africanaPrunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkam(Hook.f.) Kalkam

nn Family name: Family name: RosaceaeRosaceae

nn Common (vernacular) Common (vernacular) namesnames–– Red ivory, Red ivory, iron woodiron wood, ,

red stinkwood (Eng), red stinkwood (Eng), Gurayu (Or), Tikur Gurayu (Or), Tikur inchet (Amh), Aqoma inchet (Amh), Aqoma (Amh.), Arara (Had), (Amh.), Arara (Had), Hoomii, Sukkee, MukaHoomii, Sukkee, Muka--raajaa (Or.), Micikko raajaa (Or.), Micikko (Sid)(Sid)

Characteristics Characteristics nn Evergreen tree to 40 m Evergreen tree to 40 m

with darkwith dark--brown to grey brown to grey longitudinally fissured or longitudinally fissured or scaly bark.scaly bark.

nn Bole slim, cylinderical, Bole slim, cylinderical, normally very straight and normally very straight and clean. clean.

nn Slash pale pink to red Slash pale pink to red broom, turning darker.broom, turning darker.

Source: Nsawir and Ingram (nd)

Uses of Uses of Prunus africanaPrunus africanann MultiMulti--purpose tree in Ethiopiapurpose tree in Ethiopiann The heartwood is dark, hard and heavy and is used for:The heartwood is dark, hard and heavy and is used for:

–– bridge decking (local)bridge decking (local)–– heavy construction work, poles and is also very suitable for heavy construction work, poles and is also very suitable for

making furniture. making furniture.

nn Mortars and other utensils are made from the very Mortars and other utensils are made from the very durable wood (Fichtl & Admasu, 1994). durable wood (Fichtl & Admasu, 1994).

nn P. africanaP. africana also makes excellent firewood and valuable also makes excellent firewood and valuable pollen and nectar source (bee forage).pollen and nectar source (bee forage).

nn Also used for fuelwood, charcoal, traditional medicines Also used for fuelwood, charcoal, traditional medicines (leaves, bark etc.), shade, ornamental, windbreaks, (leaves, bark etc.), shade, ornamental, windbreaks, mulch, green manure, etc. mulch, green manure, etc.

Uses (contd)Uses (contd)nn In traditional medicine In traditional medicine

the stem bark provides a the stem bark provides a popular medicine against popular medicine against urinary disorders (Fichtl & urinary disorders (Fichtl & Admasu, 1994)Admasu, 1994)

nn Traditional healers also Traditional healers also use the bark in treatment use the bark in treatment of stomachache, wound of stomachache, wound dressing, infusion of dressing, infusion of leaves to improve leaves to improve appetite, treatment of appetite, treatment of both bacterial and nonboth bacterial and non--bacterial chronic prostesis bacterial chronic prostesis and genital infectionand genital infection

Uses (contd)Uses (contd)

nn The active ingredients in The active ingredients in Prunus africana Prunus africana are are effective treatment for benign Prostatic effective treatment for benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate gland Hypertrophy Hyperplasia and Prostate gland Hypertrophy (enlarged prostate gland), ailments that affect (enlarged prostate gland), ailments that affect about 60% of men over the age of 50, especially about 60% of men over the age of 50, especially in Europe and USA. in Europe and USA.

nn Because of the overexploitation for its medicinal Because of the overexploitation for its medicinal value (high market demand), the species is value (high market demand), the species is under threat in many African countries.under threat in many African countries.

Unsustainable harvesting & poor regeneration(Source: Emfveh Mii, 2007)

nn Trade in Trade in Prunus africanaPrunus africanaproducts is regulated products is regulated under Appendix II of the under Appendix II of the Convention on Convention on International Trade in International Trade in Endangered Species of Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora wild fauna and flora (CITES)(CITES)–– imposing strict imposing strict

regulations on its regulations on its harvest and trade harvest and trade (Cunningham (Cunningham et alet al., ., 1997). 1997).

Prunus seized in Oku, CameroonSource: FAO

Geographic distribution and Geographic distribution and habitathabitatnn Prunus africanaPrunus africana is widespread in montane and is widespread in montane and

riverine forests of Haraghe, Kefa, Ilu Ababor, riverine forests of Haraghe, Kefa, Ilu Ababor, Sidamo, Arsi, Wolega, Gojam, Gonder and Sidamo, Arsi, Wolega, Gojam, Gonder and Shewa regions (Dawit Abebe and Ahedu Ayehu, Shewa regions (Dawit Abebe and Ahedu Ayehu, 1993). 1993).

nn Its habitat is moist evergreen forest of Its habitat is moist evergreen forest of mountain, mist belt areas/ montane tropical mountain, mist belt areas/ montane tropical forest; often in riverine vegetation or on forest forest; often in riverine vegetation or on forest margins and in remnant patches (Cunningham margins and in remnant patches (Cunningham and Mbenkum, 1993).and Mbenkum, 1993).

Natural Distribution RangeNatural Distribution Range

nn AfroAfro--alpine and subafroalpine vegetation, alpine and subafroalpine vegetation, nn Dry evergreen mountane forest, Dry evergreen mountane forest, nn Moist evergreen forest. Moist evergreen forest.

–– Intermediat and upper storey tree in semiIntermediat and upper storey tree in semi--humid humid lower highland forest. lower highland forest.

–– Climate: Rainfall regime(s): 1000Climate: Rainfall regime(s): 1000--2000 mm per year.2000 mm per year.–– In montane or riverine forest: 1700In montane or riverine forest: 1700--2500m.2500m.–– Afromontane forest from 1550Afromontane forest from 1550--3100m. 3100m. –– Occasionally, it is the dominant tree in dry Occasionally, it is the dominant tree in dry

afromontane forest and is often left as an isolated afromontane forest and is often left as an isolated tree in grassland and farmland. tree in grassland and farmland.

MethodsMethods

nn Data CollectionData Collection–– Vegetation inventory using 50 m X 10 m Vegetation inventory using 50 m X 10 m

sample plots and 50 m drop in altitudesample plots and 50 m drop in altitude

nn Data AnalysisData Analysis–– DensityDensity–– FrequencyFrequency–– IVIIVI

Result: Result: Current status Current status

nn Prunus africana wasPrunus africana was foundfound in 22 high in 22 high forests (that is out of the 36 forests forests (that is out of the 36 forests surveyed)surveyed)

nn Not found in high forest where it was Not found in high forest where it was supposed to occur in abundant density supposed to occur in abundant density and frequency.and frequency.

Distribution of Distribution of Prunus africana Prunus africana

Forest NameForest Name Density/haDensity/ha RegenerationRegeneration

AdesAdes 21.721.7

AngetuAngetu 3.53.5

BeleteBelete--GeraGera 16.916.9

BogindaBoginda 6.26.2 NoNo

BongaBonga 9.9.

DenkoroDenkoro 1010

DindinDindin 3.43.4

JemjemJemjem 10.910.9

JibatJibat 4.64.6 NoNo

KedoKedo 41.341.3

KolbuKolbu 0.60.6 NoNo

LimalimoLimalimo 2.22.2 NoNo

MashaMasha--AnderachaAnderacha 4.34.3

MunesaMunesa 7.27.2 NoNo

SetemaSetema 13.313.3

SigmoSigmo 8.48.4

Tara GedamTara Gedam 7.07.0 NoNo

TiroTiro--boterbechoboterbecho 17.817.8

Wef washaWef washa 0.40.4 NoNo

YayuYayu 18.418.4

Current status of Prunus africanaCurrent status of Prunus africana

nn Importance Value Index was low Importance Value Index was low compared to the dominant species in each compared to the dominant species in each forestforest–– 3.6 vs 72.6 in Ades3.6 vs 72.6 in Ades–– 6.8 vs 27.1 in Belete Gera6.8 vs 27.1 in Belete Gera–– 1.2 vs 80.9 in Dindin1.2 vs 80.9 in Dindin–– 0.7 vs 26 in Masha0.7 vs 26 in Masha

Current Conservation status (contd)Current Conservation status (contd)

nn Inventory data showed that Inventory data showed that Prunus Prunus africanaafricana is one of the highly endangered is one of the highly endangered tree species in the countrytree species in the country

Major factorMajor factor

nn Unlike other African countriesUnlike other African countries–– Not threat from international market for its medicinal Not threat from international market for its medicinal

value!value!nn Habitat destruction and fragmentation Habitat destruction and fragmentation

(Agricultural expansion) (Agricultural expansion) –– major factormajor factor–– Dry and moist afromontane forest ecosystems Dry and moist afromontane forest ecosystems

severely threatened in Ethiopiaseverely threatened in Ethiopia

nn Because of its quality timber, Because of its quality timber, Prunus africanaPrunus africanahas been logged heavily and selectively, causing has been logged heavily and selectively, causing fragmentation of the species.fragmentation of the species.

Seed storage behaviorSeed storage behavior

nn Recalcitrant (? Intermediate)Recalcitrant (? Intermediate)–– Limits Limits ex situex situ seed storage.seed storage.–– Can not tolerate desiccationCan not tolerate desiccation–– Deforestation Deforestation –– ground exposure to direct sun ground exposure to direct sun

light light –– reduced regeneration of the species reduced regeneration of the species –– Recommendable option for conservation Recommendable option for conservation §§ in situin situ conservation/and or field gene banksconservation/and or field gene banks

PotentialPotential

nn Prunus africanaPrunus africana is a species of great is a species of great commercial significance due to the commercial significance due to the proliferation of bark products used for an proliferation of bark products used for an increasing demand for treatment of increasing demand for treatment of ““Benign Prostatic HypertrophyBenign Prostatic Hypertrophy””..

nn Seedlings can be raised easily or tissue Seedlings can be raised easily or tissue culture can be used.culture can be used.

nn So far germination rate of the locally So far germination rate of the locally collected seeds has been very goodcollected seeds has been very good

PotentialPotential

nn Local communities can benefit from the Local communities can benefit from the conservation and sustainable utilizationconservation and sustainable utilization–– Integrated approach from conservation to Integrated approach from conservation to

international market neededinternational market needed

Challenges Challenges

nn Agricultural expansion Agricultural expansion -- Most of the ideal Most of the ideal sites for conservation of the species have sites for conservation of the species have been encroached.been encroached.

nn Lack of alternative livelihood for the Lack of alternative livelihood for the farmersfarmers

nn Lack of financial sources for establishing Lack of financial sources for establishing conservation sites linked to sustainable conservation sites linked to sustainable international marketinternational market

Recommendation Recommendation nn There is an urgent need to develop There is an urgent need to develop

conservation and sustainable utilization conservation and sustainable utilization strategy for this plant in close partnership strategy for this plant in close partnership with all relevant stakeholders.with all relevant stakeholders.

nn Nursery sites establishment andNursery sites establishment and–– distribution of the seedlings to farmers anddistribution of the seedlings to farmers and–– planting in the field gene banks (to be planting in the field gene banks (to be

established).established).

Recommendations (contd)Recommendations (contd)

nn Strengthen in situ conservation (Awareness)Strengthen in situ conservation (Awareness)–– on farmers field (Agroforestry tree)on farmers field (Agroforestry tree)–– Natural forest areasNatural forest areas

nn Reforestation and forest enrichment with Reforestation and forest enrichment with P. P. africanaafricana could offer an ideal combination of could offer an ideal combination of conservation and sustainabilityconservation and sustainability

Looking forLooking for

nn Partners for conservation and sustainable Partners for conservation and sustainable utilization of this multipurpose treeutilization of this multipurpose tree

nn Activities to be accomplished include:Activities to be accomplished include:–– Seed collection, Nursery sites establishment Seed collection, Nursery sites establishment

and seedling raising to be:and seedling raising to be:§§ distributed to farmers for agroforestry and distributed to farmers for agroforestry and §§ Planted in field gene banksPlanted in field gene banks

nn Establish sustainable market for the Establish sustainable market for the product product

››ScScÓ“Ó“KG<KG<Thank you very muchThank you very much