Connecting political ecology of health and disease with ‘structural stigmatization’: Declining use of forest foods and medicines in Kédougou, Senegal

Recent political ecology (PE) frameworks have evolved to identify power disparities that have consequences for human health and disease development. These power disparities can lead to unequal access to health information, natural resources (e.g. farmland, clean water), micronutrients, healthcare, and other elements necessary to maintain healthy bodies and reduce risk of disease. While many PE and political ecology of health and disease (PEHD) frameworks examine access in terms of limitations, few examples highlight effects from increased access to resources. This article uses a PEHD lens to examine how diets and health in rural Kédougou, Senegal are influenced by increased access to globalized foodstuffs and stigmatization of local foods and medicines. A better understanding of dietary decision-making is critical in understudied regions such as Senegal because West Africa has a rapidly expanding population and is projected to be among regions of the world that are most burdened with non-communicable diseases (NCD). We used qualitative methods to: 1) describe current and historic diets in Kédougou; 2) identify perceived changes about diet, health, and access to resources; and 3) understand what might be influencing these changes. Our article shows that increased access and limited access are interconnected because increased, regular access to globalized foods and medicines could factor into reduced access to local foods and medicines. We found that social context strongly influenced use of local forest foods and medicines, even leading to a gradual stigmatization of using these resources.

Socio-economic contributions of forest products to livelihoods in Yewa north local government ogun State Nigeria

The study assessed contributions of forest products to nutrition and livelihoods in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State, Nigeria. The main objective of the study found out the socio-economic contributions of the forest foods towards livelihoods in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The specific objectives; identified and described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identified the available edible forest/wild plants and animals in the study area, determined the socio-economic factors influencing the use of forest foods in the study area as well as described major problems facing forest food collection, processing, marketing and consumption in the study area. Three hundred and fifty (350) respondents randomly selected from major communities were interviewed with questionnaire. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Majority (65%) were males (88%) between 21 and 60 years. The principal household size was 6-10 (60%) persons; major occupation is farming (41%). Farm sizes were below a hectare. Majority (75%) lived in concrete houses and mud houses (22%). About half (45%) of the respondents uses water closets, pit latrines (32%) while 20% defecated in nearby bushes. Ninety percent possessed mobile phones for communication and 68% indicated availability of conventional medical facilities. Drinkable water was sourced from private boreholes (31%), public water (46%), streams (27%) and wells (12%). The source of energy is national grid (91%), kerosene stoves (56%) and firewood (28%). The respondents indicated high assets index in terms of household assets (81%) and farm assets (92%). Twenty-two plant species were identified of which 95% were eaten and twenty animal species were identified. Logistic regression model showed that sex and household size tended to increase the odds in favor of consumption of forest foods while age, educational farm size and tools owned tended to decrease consumption of forest foods. The principal problems confronting respondents were lack of storage facilities, poor transportation and shortage of wild foods during off seasons. The study concluded that forest products contribute significantly to livelihoods and recommends domestication and conservation.

Forest, Foods, and Nutrition

Forest ecosystems are an important biodiversity environment resource for many species. Forests and trees play a key role in food production and have relevant impact also on nutrition. Plants and animals in the forests make available nutrient-rich food sources, and can give an important contributions to dietary diversity, quality, and quantity. In this context, the Special Issue, entitled “Forest, Food and Nutrition”, is focused on the understanding of the intersection and linking existing between forests, food, and nutrition.

Formation of Agrarian Production Infrastructure in the Areas Inhabited by Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North. Case Study of Krasnoyarsk

The article is devoted to the problems of protecting and developing traditions and ways of life of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North through employment. Stability of northern clans is reviewed through the problems related to the development of nature’s potential and the use of the northern territories’ biological resources, the creation of supporting agrarian zones in the inhabited areas and formation of relevant production infrastructure. The article addresses development directions of such traditional industries and trades of the North as reindeer herding, hunting and fishing, and gathering of forest foods. The authors chose for the research the Taymyr Dolgan-Nenets District and the Evenkiysky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai, which are home to a large group of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North. Research methods include analysis of official and analytical reports, publications, regulations, results of field surveys, and economic calculations. It has been established that the districts under research have substantial resources for the development of traditional northern industries and trades. Having generalized the collected materials, the authors assessed the reserves of the areas’ biological resources, and potential production volumes for the traditional industries and trades, as well as determined locations for production infrastructure facilities. The main constraints to the development of the traditional industries and trades are the poor development of transportation infrastructure, the difficulties related to the export of goods from the areas, the monopolistic nature of the procurement of goods from indigenous peoples, and changes in the state approach to the management of northern territories.

Nutrient and Bioactive Composition of Five Gabonese Forest Fruits and Their Potential Contribution to Dietary Reference Intakes of Children Aged 1–3 Years and Women Aged 19–60 Years

Widely consumed forest fruits in Gabon were analysed for nutrient and bioactive compositions and their potential contributions to meeting the nutrient requirements of consumers. Edible pulps of Panda oleosa Pierre, Gambeya lacourtiana (De Wild.) Aubrév. & Pellegr. and Poga oleosa Pierre contained substantial amounts of bioactive compounds; flavonoids (13.5–22.8 mg/100 g), proanthocyanins (2.4–7.6 mg/100 g), polyphenols (49.6–77.3 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (6.7–97.7 mg/100 g). The highest content of β-carotene (76.6 µg/100 g) was registered in fruits of Pseudospondias longifolia Engl. The fruits of P. oleosa had the highest essential minerals Fe, Zn and Se. If a child aged 1 to 3 years consumed about 200 g or if a non-lactating and non-pregnant woman consumed 300 g of Panda oleosa, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr., G. lacourtiana, P. longifolia and Poga oleosa, they could obtain substantial DRI ranging between 20–100% for energy, vitamins C and E, iron, magnesium, iron and zinc. Forest fruits can considerably contribute towards the human nutrient requirements. Based on the results of this study, forest foods should be considered in formulating policies governing food and nutrition security in Gabon.