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.