Abstract:
An investigation into how Borassus aethiopum might be prevented from extinction among farmers was carried
out in four communities (Fiaso, Oforikrom, Nyamebekyere and Bayerenkwanta) in the transitional vegetation
zone of Ghana, from April 2013 to July 2013. The farmers were randomly selected from the communities.
Data were collected from the farmers using questionnaire supplemented with interviews. In addition to the crops
grown for food, farmers also obtained food from the wild/non domesticated plants of which Borassus aethiopum
was one. Farmers also used Borassus aethiopum, as a timber source, for the production of wine, for roofing and
for making fan, as fire wood and as a medicinal plant. No education had been received on the plant or even on
any other non domesticated plant. All the farmers agreed that the plant should be preserved, however, only few
(Fiaso – 44%; Oforikrom – 48%; Nyamebekyere – 40%; Bayerenkwanta – 20%) had some ideas on how the
plant might be preserved. The few farmers considered cultivation (Fiaso – 40%; Oforikrom – 33%;
Nyamebekyere – 50%; Bayerenkwanta – 60%) as a means of preventing the extinction of the plant. Other
preservation methods were; prevention of bush burning and indiscriminate felling of the tree, and enacting laws
on the usage of the plant. It was recommended that all communities with the support of governments should
create community forest reserves/parks made up Borassus aethiopum/non domesticated plant food species, and
also enact laws to preserve these plants.
Keywords: Borassus aethiopum, extinction, preservation
