Growing Diversity – West Africa
TITLE OF EXPERIENCE: The sustainable use of medicinal plants by traditional healers from Timbé
AUTHOR: The Association of Traditional Healers from Timbé
COUNTRY AND REGION: Côte d’Ivoire, Timbé - Sub-Prefecture of Katiola
ECOLOGICAL ZONE: Savannah
ABSTRACT
In the past, the region of the Sub-Prefecture of Timbé was rich in game and medicinal plants. In the face of the progressive and alarming disappearance of medicinal plants and their genetic inheritance, the village communities from the Sub-Prefecture have undertaken to contribute to the search for sustainable solutions. This initiative was started by the traditional healers and has involved various leaders in the village and regional community. After a series of discussions and debates between the village leaders and the traditional healers, decisions about the land were made. These consist of disincentives designed to slow down the over exploitation of the land.
Making the most of their influence over the village communities in which they live and practice their trade, the traditional healers assumed the tasks of raising the awareness of the village communities through the village chiefs, notables, young people's representatives, women's representatives, from the villages of Timbé and the few border villages of the Sub-Prefecture of Fronan.
Moreover, activities aimed at raising awareness and others fostering dissuasion were carried out thus contributing to a greater understanding and a reduction in the sale of plots of land by local people. The cultivation of medicinal plants on a one-hectare plot should allow these village communities to conserve useful species, especially medicinal ones which are under threat.
CONTACT:
Association des Guérisseurs traditionnels de Côte d’Ivoire Section de Timbé, Prof. KONE Penahouré, Président, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody - 22 BP 582 – Abidjan 22, COTE D’IVOIRE