A. Species
Scientific name: Vitellaria paradoxa
Common name(s): Shea tree
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Vulnerable
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Uganda
Country/Region: Uganda / Teso, Northern and West Nile farming regions
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State
Name/Details of location: Northwestern and Central Uganda / Teso, Northern and West Nile farming regions
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 2008
End Year: 2010
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Cultivation
Lethal or non-lethal: Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed, Medicine and hygiene and Decorative and aesthetic
Motivation of use: Basic subsistence and Income generation from trade (individual/household/community)
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Shea trees are grown in agro-forestry systems called parklands – landscapes where trees are left to grow in cultivated and fallow fields. Under traditional management, the population and production of these trees is increasing in Uganda.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The study explains that shea trees are important to the rural communities of the shea belt of Uganda as they have a range of domestic and socio-cultural uses. Since shea trees are economically and socially important to the local communities in the shea belt of Uganda, this study focuses on how sustainable management and conservation of shea trees may be enhanced by promoting community involvement. Most of the shea belt of Uganda faced political and social instability from 1986 to 2004. During this period, people were gathered in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps resulting in the decimation of shea trees targeted for charcoal, fuel wood and income. Subsequently the management of tree resources in the study area ihas been restored through customary land tenure. Land ownership is regulated by local customs through clan affiliation. Land and tree resources are owned by families or households by superintendence of clans through which rules on land tenure are enacted. Although most of the shea tree belt has experienced a large increase in human population, nevertheless there are still considerable areas left fallow in the northern farming system. Fallow periods are variable and are based on human population size and demand for shea oil, with short fallows ranging between 1 and 5 years. Long fallows may range between 5 and 10 or as long as 10–20 years Thus there is residual capacity in shea agroforestry, where this resource could be developed further in a sustainable way.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The study explains that shea trees are important to the rural communities of the shea belt of Uganda as they have a range of domestic and socio-cultural uses. Since shea trees are economically and socially important to the local communities in the shea belt of Uganda, this study focuses on how sustainable management and conservation of shea trees may be enhanced by promoting community involvement. Most of the shea belt of Uganda faced political and social instability from 1986 to 2004. During this period, people were gathered in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps resulting in the decimation of shea trees targeted for charcoal, fuel wood and income. Subsequently the management of tree resources in the study area ihas been restored through customary land tenure. Land ownership is regulated by local customs through clan affiliation. Land and tree resources are owned by families or households by superintendence of clans through which rules on land tenure are enacted. Although most of the shea tree belt has experienced a large increase in human population, nevertheless there are still considerable areas left fallow in the northern farming system. Fallow periods are variable and are based on human population size and demand for shea oil, with short fallows ranging between 1 and 5 years. Long fallows may range between 5 and 10 or as long as 10–20 years Thus there is residual capacity in shea agroforestry, where this resource could be developed further in a sustainable way.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Shea oil has various applications for health care and medicine. Shea oil is used as an illuminant, in soap making, as a hair and skin lotion, and as a medicine. Shea butter can be used as a nasal decongestant and is a common component of commercial skin moisturisers. Shea oil is used for the treatment of wounds and to facilitate child birth.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
The study recommends a further integration and incorporation of traditional practices, marketing and market access, to enhance a holistic management mechanism. Traditional practices ultimately play an important conservation role and should be given more attention by policy makers and conservation managers.
Record source
Information about the record source: scientific_pub
Date of publication/issue/production: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
Date of record entry: 2023-01-08