Diversity of cocoyam-based agroforestry systems in Benin, West Africa

Cocoyam-based agroforestry systems in Benin remain poorly characterized, despite their ecological and cultural importance to local livelihoods. Limited documentation of associated plant species and traditional management practices constrains efforts toward the sustainable use of this neglected crop. This study explored the species diversity, domestication levels, and ethnobotanical knowledge related to cocoyam-associated plants across six agro-ecological zones and seven departments of Benin.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews across the region of the field study. Species diversity associated with cocoyam production was listed in accordance to an inventory based on the flora of Benin through 56 farm units, commonly called agroforestry systems; on the flora of Benin IUCN online database; on the Red List of threatened plant species in Benin; on the Biodiversity Atlas for West Africa; and on the online database of the Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Meanwhile, the domestication status was assessed using six levels ranging from wild (level 0) to fully cultivated species with pest and disease management (level 5). Species prioritization was determined using eight criteria (native status, economic and ethnobotanical value, global and national distribution, in situ and ex situ conservation status, legislation, and threat assessment) combined across four prioritization methods (point scoring, weighted point scoring, compound ranking, and binomial ranking). A super-prioritization of these methods was applied to identify the highest-priority species for conservation.In total, 48 species representing 26 families and 41 genera were documented. The Bar Land Zone showed the highest diversity (85.18% of families), followed by the Fisheries (66.66%) and Food Crops (20%) zones. The Leguminosae family dominated, followed by Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Meliaceae, and Musaceae. Level 5 species were the most represented (23 species). Leaves were the most used plant part (27%), followed by wood (25%) and fruits (20%), primarily for therapeutic (25%), nutritional (18%), and craft (10%) purposes, reflecting the multifunctional value of these plants in rural communities.Twelve plant species ( Vitellaria paradoxa , Morinda lucida , Khaya senegalensis , Parkia biglobosa , Albizia zygia , Rauvolfia vomitoria , Anogeissus leiocarpa , Sarcocephalus latifolius , Vitex doniana , Cola nitida , Caesalpinia bonduc , and Newbouldia laevis ) were prioritized for domestication and conservation for sustainable valorization of agrobiodiversity in Benin.