This project involved the study of shea trees, Vitellaria paradoxa, (economically important, multipurpose tree species in Sudano-Sahelian agroforestry parklands) from a variety of angles, such as distribution, propagation, genetic variation, impact of farming, impact of climate change and market value chain. My role in the project was two folds:

(1) As the Leader of Work Package 1 – “Shea tree dynamics and fruit production in the parklands”, my role was to take the lead in preparing study/sampling protocols, coordinate field data collection in five countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Uganda) in collaboration with in-country INNOVKAR partners, and utilise the field data in order to: assess the impact of climate change and farmer practises on the natural regeneration of shea trees; assess the impact of climate change and farmer practises on fruit production; predict shea tree parkland dynamics in the long term using a predictive model of Shea regeneration and production under different management scenarios (i.e., field-fallow dynamics).

(2) As the Deputy Leader of Work Package 2 – “Adaptation and resilience of shea tree facing climate change and drought using ecophysiological and modelling approaches”, my primary role was to coordinate the shea distribution modelling efforts in the Environment Department at the University of York; assist in sourcing, compiling and ground-toothing shea distribution data; and communicating and presenting the findings with other project partners.