Abstract
Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are
important ecosystem’s resources that could play important role for the
success of an Ecosystem-based Adaptation to climate change. To evaluate
their diversity in The Gambia, current crops were matched with species
from the Flora, considering the genus as the level of identity.
Overall
238 CWR were identified and prioritized using 09 criteria: species’
origin, economic value, ethnobotanic value, nutritional value,
conservation status, legislation, threat assessment, national and global
distribution. These criteria were applied to PSP, PSPW, BRS, and CRS
methods as described by Brehm et al. (2010). Results were cross-checked
to obtain 20 priority species. Among priority species, Malvaceae family,
represented by the genus “Hibiscus”, was dominant (45%) in The Gambia.
Genus like Acacia, Annona, Solanum, Sesamum, Pennisetum, and Vigna were
also represented. Advanced ranking was done to select the top genus to
benefit urgent conservation action plan.
From that point, the
distribution of Acacia was assessed using MaxEnt. Projections have been
made at horizon 2050 based on HadGEM-ES and Miroc5 models and scenarios
RCP 4.5 and 8.5. Results showed that whatever the case (controlled or
high emissions) climate change will favor distribution of Acacia species
in the country, except in the coastal area. In this regard, a technical
report and guideline for awareness campaign are designed as part of
this thesis to help disseminate information on priority species as well
as the importance of Acacia sieberiana and Acacia macrothyrsa to
targeted audiences.
Close