Significance of pollination services in crop and plant diversity in tropical Africa
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2017, Vol 11, Issue 6
Abstract
There exist diverse communities of plants in the tropics. These plants offer habitat to a number of insect pollinators that directly or indirectly play a significant role in sustaining tropical biodiversity through pollination process. The insect pollinators are capable of transferring pollen grains from anther of one flower to the stigma of another or the same flower enabling wild plants and cultivated crops to reproduce. Among others, pollinator-dependent crops contribute to about 35% of the world crop production. About 94% of flowering plants in the tropical region estimated to receive animal pollination benefits. However, climate change, agricultural intensification, land use change, intensive monoculture and use of industrial pesticides and fertilizers are major threats to pollinators’ exists. Although tropical Africa is blessed with diverse pollinators, its people are still lacking basic knowledge on pollination but also its implication as ecosystem service in maintaining tropical biodiversity. The intention of this review therefore is to bridge the knowledge gap among African communities by highlighting the significance of pollination services, threats facing pollinators and appropriate conservation strategies that could help to enhance pollinators for better ecosystem services in this region. Involvement of policy makers, farmers, land managers and private institutions to discuss issues related to ecosystem services will likely help to increase the level of awareness. Formulation of appropriate pollinators’ conservation policies, conservation agriculture practicing, restoration of degraded habitats, habitat management and monitoring of pollinators’ populations may be a good foundation towards protection of pollinators necessary for crop and plant diversity in tropical Africa.
Authors and Affiliations
Filemon Elisante, Ernest R. Mbega, Patrick A. Ndakidemi
Keywords
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