Many cash-poor households in the semiarid
tropics strongly depend on non-timber forest
products (NTFPs) for livelihood. Increasing threats on
NTFP-providing tree species, due to land-use intensi-
fication, require ecological studies as well as additional
information about species’ uses and management
provided by local people. The objectives of our study
were to (i) document uses and management of the
baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), (ii) investigate knowledge
distribution among genders and different villages,
and (iii) assess the population status of the baobab in
eastern Burkina Faso. We conducted an ethnobotanical
survey among Gulimanceba people and performed a
quantitative analysis using different measures of
knowledge. Interviews reveal that the baobab is
harvested by local people for 25 use-types. The fruits
are the most important plant part and baobab products
are of special importance for nutritional uses. Local
management of baobab seems to be so far sufficient to
maintain baobab populations. The fact that we found
some differences in uses and management of baobab
between genders and villages emphasizes the importance
of gender- and region-related management
recommendation. People are able to use and manage
the baobab in a relative sustainable way as human
population density is relatively low and as they have
relatively good access to the forest compared to other
regions of Burkina Faso. However, in the light of landuse
and climate changes, adapted management strategies
are required. We conclude that ethnobotanical
studies on a small-scale level are of high importance in
order to develop management strategies that are
reliable in a specific region