Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey,Niger |
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| Authors: | Hannah Bernholt Katja Kehlenbeck Jens Gebauer Andreas Buerkert |
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| Institution: | (1) Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany;(2) Tree Genetic Resources and Domestication, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; |
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| Abstract: | Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) significantly contributes to food and nutritional security of urban dwellers in many
African countries. Economic and demographic pressures often lead to transformation of subsistence-oriented traditional homegardens
into commercial production units. Such transformation is claimed to result in decreasing plant diversity, particularly of
local species. A study was therefore undertaken in 51 gardens of Niamey, Niger, to assess the factors determining plant diversity
and the suitability of UPA for in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In each garden, the number and abundance of
all human-used plant species were determined, and species density, Shannon index and Shannon evenness were calculated. In
the 51 surveyed gardens, a total of 116 plant species were cultivated, most of them for the production of fruits or vegetables.
Annual vegetables dominated, particularly exotic species grown for sale. In the cold season, an average of 14 species were
cultivated per garden, the Shannon index was 0.96 and evenness was 0.39. Commercial gardens had a species richness similar
to that of subsistence gardens, but a lower evenness (P < 0.005), caused by the dominance of a few vegetable species. Gardens of immigrants had a lower Shannon index than those
of members of the local Djerma ethnic group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed significant influence of various
variables on plant species richness and diversity parameters: garden size (richness and Shannon index), ethnicity of the gardener
(richness and evenness), gender of the gardener and cash-oriented production (evenness), household size (richness) and garden
possession status (Shannon index). Cluster analysis revealed the existence of five garden types. The highest species richness
and diversity, particularly of perennial and local species, was found in large, peri-urban, commercial gardens managed by
relatively wealthy, elderly gardeners with large families and a regular non-agricultural income. |
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