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Fungal Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa:
sustainability and livelihood implications
Edible mushrooms on the front page of national newspapers
Published this Monday, April 29 in the newspaper “Le Matinal” under the title « Edible mushroom sector in Benin », the publication addresses the issues and challenges of an under-exploited gold mine. According to Professor Yourou, Director of MyTIPS in the publication, Beninese forests are full of more than 800 species of which more than fifty have high nutritional value. Promotion of this resource involving the population from harvest to consumption will enable to value these mushrooms.
Launching of the book « Champignons comestibles d’Afrique de l’Ouest »
On April 5th, 2024, the University of Parakou hosted the launch of the book « Champignons comestibles d’Afrique de l’Ouest », a collaborative effort between the Meise Botanical Garden and the MyTIPS research unit. This nine-chapter work comprehensively explores aspects of West African mycology, ranging from the climates influencing fungal diversity to the illustrated descriptions of edible species, including their cultivation, valorization, and identification. Its publication serves as a further step in the ongoing initiatives focused on conserving the rich fungal biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, of « Fungal Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa » Project.
Discussing Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets in Parakou
On April 3, 2024, We participated in the workshop « Disseminating the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Consulting with National Stakeholders for a Better Revision of the NBSAP of Benin. » It was an opportunity to interact with the political and administrative authorities of the Parakou town hall, the Ministry of Living Environment, Transport, and Sustainable Development, the CBD focal point, representatives of local NGOs, and researchers from the University of Parakou. We discussed target 2 of the KM GBF, aiming to restore at least 30% of ecosystems by 2030, and target 3, aiming to protect 30% of terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems by 2030. These exchanges aligned well with our project, one of whose core objectives is habitat restoration.
Exploring Project Impact: Field Insights from FC-SSA Beneficiary Villages
From March 28th to 29th, 2024, a team from the FC-SSA Project undertook a visit to villages benefiting from the project. During these two days of visits, the team engaged in discussions with women from the beneficiary villages to gather their experiences in establishing nurseries. Capacity-building program has been also organized for women on strategies for fungi habitats conservation, such as permaculture. This direct interaction enabled for a deeper understanding project impact on local community livelihood. The team visited also Babazaoré community forest and the Papatia botanical garden.