Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) is one of the main native oil plants with high economic value in Africa. Its fruits are used for food, medicinal, cultural and exportation purposes. However, the lack of efficient tools to assess annual fruit production of the species limits the sustainable management of its resources. Therefore, production statistics are useful to organize the activities of the shea sector. This study aimed to (i) assess the interannual variation in fruit production along a climatic gradient in Burkina Faso, (ii) examine fruit production patterns according to climatic zones and tree size, (iii) assess the contribution of high-yielding trees in the annual potential production and (iv) develop allometric equations for estimating fruit yields of the species. The yield of 212 trees distributed across three climatic zones was monitored over four successive years. Within each climatic zone, fruit production was significantly different among years. Fruit production was positively and significantly correlated with tree size. The interannual variation in fruit production at tree individual level was higher in drier climatic conditions. The mean interindividual synchrony was less than 50% in each zone, suggesting a large range in fruit production patterns of the species. Annually, more than 55% of the total fruit production was supported by high-yielding trees. The best regression models for estimating fruit yields had R² values of 69–73% with prediction errors ranging from −7% to 4%. Our findings are useful tools for the planning of rational exploitation of shea tree’s resources and its sustainable management.

Climatic aridity and human pressure are factors responsible for the dynamics of species populations in West Africa savannas ecosystems, causing significant effects on their productivity. This study aimed to determine the factors that affect Balanites aegyptiaca fruit production in order to contribute to the control of the species management. Data were collected across two climatic zones and two contrasting land-use systems on trees with different stem diameter classes. A non-destructive method was applied to assess fruit biomass per tree. The results showed that climatic conditions had a significant effect on fruit production of Balanites aegyptiaca (p < .001). In contrast, land use did not affect the production of the species (p > .05). The average fruit biomass was estimated at 2.99 ± 2.03 kg and 6.32 ± 5.0 kg.tree⁻¹, respectively, in the Sahelian and the Sudano-Sahelian zones. Fruit production was correlated to tree stem diameter, crown cover and tree height. B. aegyptica trees start fruiting in both climatic zones, when stem diameter is around 10 cm. This study contributes to highlight the important factors that drive B. aegyptiaca fruit production under different environmental conditions. The results of this study can guide for other similar studies on fruit bearing trees in tropical areas.

Ecosystems degradation, and consequently biodiversity loss, has severe impacts on people around the world. The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is one of the international initiatives that have emerged to inform policy makers and aid decisions to prevent further global biodiversity loss, focusing on the interdependence between natural systems and human culture. IPBES promotes the use of scenarios and modelling approaches as a fundamental tool to advance the understanding of the relationships between drivers of change, Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP), and social systems. Local-scale case studies with a system approach demonstrating how current knowledge can be used to inform decision-making are still scarce. Here, we present a comprehensive conceptual model and a series of four scenarios under different policies for shea tree species management, as a case-study of applying systems thinking and the NCP concept to a local-scale socio-ecological system. We first characterized the central processes, NCP, drivers and pressures affecting the shea tree system, to investigate the impacts of the multiple uses of the shea tree species on the system as a whole. We then described potential policy options, developed four scenarios, and evaluated them by a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). We predicted qualitative outcomes of the proposed scenarios: Business-as-usual (BAU), “Conservation and fair trade”, “Agroforestry and fair trade” and “Industrial development”. We found that the scenarios focussing on conservation, fair trade and agroforestry, can improve the conservation status of shea trees, and enhance wellbeing in the local communities. In this case study, we demonstrate that the development of a comprehensive conceptual model at a local scale can be a useful exercise to identify opportunities for effective policy strategies and social innovation. The shea tree case study can provide an example for modelling non-timber forest products in other regions around the world that face similar drivers and pressures. Species for which this model could be adapted include Central and South American species such as the Brazilian nut (Bertholletia excelsa), cocoa (Theobroma cacao), andiroba (Carapa guianensis), açai (Euterpe oleracea) and the wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense). The model and workflow applied here may thus be used to understand similar socio-ecological systems with local and international economic value across the Neotropical region.

Agricultural biomass burning plays a critical role in carbon emissions, with implications for climate change. This study aims to assess carbon (C) emissions and establish C, CO, CO₂ and CH₄ emission factors (EFs) by simultaneously testing the effects of climatic conditions and cropland category on gas emissions. In Burkina Faso, 96 experimental fires were conducted in accordance with farmers’ operations during the land-clearing season in two climatic zones (Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian) and across two cropland categories (Cropland Remaining Cropland (CC) and Land Converted to Cropland (LC)). The carbon mass balance technique was applied to estimate emissions. Climate zone and cropland category significantly influenced carbon emissions and emission factors (p < 0.05). The Sudanian zone recorded the highest carbon emissions (0.24 ± 0.01 t C ha⁻¹). For cropland category, LC recorded the highest carbon emissions with an average value of 0.27 ± 0.01 t C ha⁻¹. CO₂ EFs ranged from 1661.44 ± 3.63 g kg⁻¹ in the Sudanian zone to 1716.51 ± 3.24 g kg⁻¹ in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. EFs showed a dependence on the cropland category, with the highest EFs in CC. Smart agricultural practices limiting cropland expansion and biomass burning need to be promoted. This study provides vital information useful for supporting decision making as part of Nationally Determined Contributions.