Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits

Abstract

Tree species preference is an understudied yet crucial component of sustainable forest management, as unsustainable harvesting can lead to non-random loss of functional traits. We examine wood resource preference across five regions of Madagascar's biodiverse eastern humid forests. We asked forest users in 19 men's and 19 women's focus groups to list their preferred tree species for common short- (charcoal, firewood) and long-term (house construction, furniture, tools) uses. We then measured functional traits of 260 preferred and common tree species: height, DBH, bark thickness, specific leaf area, wood specific gravity, and seed dispersal syndrome in the surrounding landscape. Using household interviews, we determined the average distance households would need to travel to access each species. Forest users preferred shorter travel distances for short-term uses, whereas species preferences for long-term uses were associated with specific functional traits. Women focused mainly on firewood and tool provisioning and were more likely to prefer species at a shorter walking distance than men. We found no clear relationships between tree species preference and dispersal syndromes, suggesting that a diverse community of seed-dispersing animal species may be necessary to maintain traits preferred for tree harvest in Malagasy humid forests. We suggest strategies to support reducing deforestation, promoting traditional ecological knowledge, and increasing accessibility of wood resources to women.