Abstract:
Tree species richness is a critical element concerning trees on farms, on communal land and
in protected areas to support biodiversity and socio-economic livelihoods in traditional agroforestry
landscapes. Tree species richness is directly linked to the use of provisioning ecosystem services
and to management practices in traditional agroforestry landscapes. The study aimed to investigate
the link between socio-ecological and conservation strategies regarding tree species richness in
traditional agroforestry landscapes. The study was conducted in the Damani, Thenzheni, Tshiombo
and Tshipako villages located in Thulamela Municipality of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South
Africa. The data were collected using a mixed method approach combining forestry inventory and
focus group discussion. The study recorded a total number of 126 tree species: 83 communal-landhosted
species, 68 species of trees on farms and 81 species in the protected areas. The indigenous
species Englerophytum magalismontanum (Sond.) T.D.Penn. was the most cited (62%) by interviewees,
with a primary use for wild fruits, followed by Pteleopsis myrtifolia (M.A. Lawson) Engl. & Diels.
(57%) for fuelwood, Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don (36%) for traditional medicine and Albizia
adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.F.Wight (12%) for fodder. Species richness was found to be commonly
driven by provisioning ecosystem services with trees on farms and on communal land. Distance
was found to be major driving factor of species richness in protected areas. This study found that
the local people have no conservation strategy and practices targeting the enhancement of tree
species richness in the traditional agroforestry landscape. This study advocates for the establishment
of a conservation strategic framework for restoring tree species richness by targeting traditional
agroforestry landscapes.
