Geographical Distribution and Socio‐Economic Importance of Raphia ruwenzorica From South‐West of Burundi
Jacques Nkengurutse, John Maina Nyongesa, Eric Nimubona, Gaëlle Ndayizeye, Anatole Bukuru, Rosette Irampagarikiye, Marie Violette Niyonsaba, Longin Ndayikeza, Kamaguru Bienvenu Imani, Jérémie Ngezahayo, Yuelin Li

TL;DR
This paper maps the distribution and uses of Raphia ruwenzorica in Burundi's South-West region and highlights its socio-economic value and threats to its survival.
Contribution
The study provides the first detailed documentation of Raphia ruwenzorica's geographical distribution and socio-economic importance in Burundi.
Findings
Raphia ruwenzorica is primarily found between 1600 and 1900 meters in altitude in Burundi.
The species is used for firewood, construction, and traditional ceremonial costumes, with some products valued up to $57.7 per year.
The species is threatened by agricultural expansion and declining traditional practices.
Abstract
The genus Raphia is among the commonly used and socio‐economically important plants in Africa. While Raphia ruwenzorica species is known to occur in Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, its geographical distribution and socioeconomic importance are poorly documented in Burundi. This study maps R. ruwenzorica species from the South‐West region and identifies its socio‐economic importance for the local communities. Different uses and value of the products were investigated using semi‐structured questionnaires on 399 respondents, of which 181 were valid and used for analysis. The number of stands of the species and biophysical properties (diameter and height) were also determined through field inventories. The study site was dominated by adults before flowering compared to the young and adult flowering. The trunks were slender with slightly similar diameter…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAfrican Botany and Ecology Studies · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies · Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
