Endogenous knowledge and use value of Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze, an invasive alien plant in Burkina Faso

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Résumé

Background: Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is an alien invasive plant species in many countries in tropical Africa, including Burkina Faso. This study aimed to document the indigenous knowledge of local people regarding the invasion of M. suaveolens, its uses, and the impact of its proliferation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted from January to March 2024 with 260 individuals from six ethnic groups in four sites across two climate zones of Burkina Faso. The use values and citation frequencies were calculated. A multinomial regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing indigenous knowledge. Results: The proliferation of M. suaveolens has intensified over the past two decades. Livestock was identified as a primary source of the species' spread. The uses of M. suaveolens were classified into six categories; medicinal uses were by far the most common (69.61% of responses), followed by the use of the species as a mosquito repellent (4.61%). Values varied significantly according to climate zones and ethnic groups (p < 0.001). Most respondents (93.7%) reported that the species is fast spreading, and 75.4% of them considered the proliferation of M. suaveolens as a major threat to local plant resources. The impacts of the invasion include the extinction of local species, the reduction of biodiversity, and the depletion of pastures. Conclusions: This study highlighted the huge endogenous knowledge from local communities that can serve for the implementation of strategies to mitigate the invasion impacts of M. suaveolens.

Mots-clés

Biodiversity, ethnobotany, invasive species, Mesosphaerum suaveolens, endogenous knowledge