Bucar Indjai

Essential oils are increasingly recognized as ecofriendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, especially in tropical regions with high pest pressure and limited crop protection resources. This study evaluates native and naturalized plants in Guinea-Bissau— Ageratum conyzoides , Azadirachta indica , Chromolaena odorata , Cymbopogon giganteus , and Mesosphaerum suaveolens —for sustainable pest management, combining ethnobotanical documentation, essential oils characterization, and existing bioactivity data focused on cashew pests. An African-wide ethnobotanical assessment using Plant Resources of Tropical Africa (PROTA) and Scopus databases revealed that these species were predominantly used for medicinal and pest-related applications, most frequently reported in West Africa. Essential oils were extracted from leaves by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry. Essential oils yields varied among species; C. odorata and C. giganteus yielded the highest. Chemical profiling revealed species-specific compositions dominated by chromenes, monoterpene hydrocarbons, and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Major constituents included precocene I, limonene, sabinene, β-caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole, compounds widely reported for their insecticidal, repellent, and antifeedant properties, indicating their potential for sustainable management of cashew pests in West Africa. By combining ethnobotanical knowledge with phytochemical characterization, this study highlights the untapped potential of locally available plant-derived essential oils, rooted in traditional practices, as potentially valuable resources for sustainable agriculture.

Palm trees (Arecaceae) are critically important worldwide, particularly in tropical regions where they provide essential resources for food, shelter, medicine, and income. The African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis holds particular significance in West Africa, as a vital nutritional source and a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and cultural practices. In Guinea-Bissau, the wild Dura variety is the most widespread and used, even though the cultivated Tenera variety also occurs. This study analyzes the nutritional and functional properties of the edible parts of wild E. guineensis and documents its traditional uses. Samples of fresh fruits and sap were collected, preserved, and assessed for nutritional and functional characteristics. Socio-economic relevance was explored through market visits and interviews with local users. Results show that palm-based products are essential to many families who produce and sell oil and palm wine, as well as brooms and “black soap”. Nutritional analysis revealed that the pulp is rich in lipids, particularly unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants, while the kernels contain high levels of protein and key minerals. Rural communities rely heavily on oil palm, and promoting the preservation and sustainable use of wild E. guineensis is vital for food security and livelihoods in Guinea-Bissau and across West Africa.

Wild edible plants (WEP) are among the most important non-timber forest products, contributing both to local food security and to the generation of income for families. The aim of this study is to present a comprehensive dataset of WEP in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, including species identification, characterization of uses, bioecology, and local common names, as well as an associated image dataset documenting the species and their edible parts. Data were collected through extensive fieldwork across the country, complemented by bibliographic and herbarium research. Additionally, countryside and urban markets were visited to identify and characterize WEP currently traded. A total of 114 WEP were recorded in the flora of Guinea-Bissau, belonging to 45 families and 89 genera; of these, 110 are native species and four are introduced and naturalized. Fruits were the most commonly consumed plant part, followed by leaves and underground organs, with most consumed in natura. About 40 WEP are sold in the markets, several of which have high socioeconomic importance both as food and as sources of income. This dataset enhances knowledge of WEP in Guinea-Bissau and supports the promotion of sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems in West Africa.

Climate change is expected to significantly alter habitat suitability for plant species, potentially leading to range contractions and, in extreme cases, extinction. These impacts may be further intensified by concurrent changes in land cover and land use, whether directly or indirectly driven by climate change. Therefore, medium- and long-term projections of species distributions provide valuable tools for environmental planning and management in vulnerable regions. The Arecaceae family holds considerable ecological importance and represents a critical natural resource for rural populations in West Africa, where several species may be at risk. This study models the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of palm species in Guinea-Bissau, using climate and land cover predictors under two scenarios (SSP-245 and SSP-585), with 2070 as the projection horizon. Despite limited occurrence data for some species, increasing temperature emerged as the most influential climatic variable shaping habitat suitability among the modeled palm species. Projections indicate a contraction of suitable habitats for several species, particularly those with narrow ecological tolerances or restricted distributions, such as Hyphaene thebaica and Raphia sudanica. Additionally, species of high socioeconomic importance, including Elaeis guineensis , are projected to experience substantial reductions in habitat suitability, potentially affecting their availability and use by local communities. Overall, these findings highlight the vulnerability of palm species in Guinea-Bissau to future climate change and underscore the importance of integrating climate and land-use projections into conservation and resource management strategies.

Guinea-Bissau has among the world’s highest maternal and perinatal mortality rates. To improve access to quality maternal and child health (MCH) services and thereby reduce mortality, a national health system strengthening initiative has been implemented. However, despite improved coverage of MCH services, perinatal mortality remained high. Using a systems-thinking lens, we conducted a situation analysis to explore factors shaping timeliness and quality of facility-based care during labour, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period in rural Guinea-Bissau. We implemented in-depth interviews with eight peripartum care providers and participant observations at two health facilities (192 h) in 2021-22, and analysed interview transcripts and field notes using thematic network analysis. While providers considered health facilities as the only reasonable place of birth and promoted facility birth uptake, timeliness and quality of care were severely compromised by geographical, material and human-resource constraints. Providers especially experienced a lack of human resources and materials (e.g., essential medicines, consumables, appropriate equipment), and explained material constraints by discontinued donor supplies. In response, providers applied several adaptation strategies including prescribing materials for private purchase, omitting tests, and delegating tasks to birth companions. Consequences included financial barriers to care, compromised patient and occupational safety, delays, and diffusion of health worker responsibilities. Further, providers explained that in response to persisting access barriers, women conditioned care seeking on their perceived risk of developing birthing complications. Our findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of factors constraining timeliness and quality of essential MCH services during the implementation of health system strengthening initiatives.

This study compares the knowledge of medicinal plants of Bissau-Guinean migrants now established in Italy with the ethnopharmacology still present in their country of origin. We also investigated how traditional ethnobotanical knowledge is changing following the phenomenon of migration from Africa to Europe. The ethnobotanical data were collected during 2017–2018, by interviewing 49 informants belonging to 8 ethnic groups, living in 8 provinces of northern Italy. The final inventory of botanical taxa included 81 species belonging to 34 families, with Fabaceae and Malvaceae the most represented, followed by Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, Combretaceae, and Solanaceae. Plant remedies were used to treat 21 ailment categories, such as fever, internal infections, intestinal and respiratory problems, and pains. The traditional ethnobotanical knowledge of Bissau-Guinean migrants in Italy was associated with gender, with women showing the highest knowledge. In addition, a negative relationship was observed between the maintenance of this knowledge and the number of years migrants have spent in Italy. Overall, a loss of knowledge was observed in the less numerous ethnic groups. However, traditional preparations based on plants from the country of origin are in general well preserved to maintain a good state of health. Our work could help in transferring to the next generation the cultural heritage of Bissau-Guinean people permanently moved to European Countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of children in a myriad of ways across the world. It exposed and aggravated existing inequalities between children within countries and across continents and hampered education. In Guinea-Bissau, school closure was one of the first restrictions implemented to confront the emerging pandemic. The aim was to describe and analyse the experiences of adolescents of school closures in the capital Bissau, their concerns about their future and manifestations of inequality. Data were collected by semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 30 adolescents aged 15–17 years three months into the pandemic during an enforced state of emergency. A thematic analysis identified five themes: appreciation of education, feeling left behind, being stuck in confinement, suggestions for support, and a disrupted future. The results highlight global rather than local inequalities in the demographic, manifested by a lack of targeted educational support for public and private school students; they knew about such efforts elsewhere. The school-attending participants suggested ways to mitigate disruptions in their education, while those out of school aiming to return saw their possibilities fading away. They appreciated education for personal and national benefits, and participants worried about the long-term effects of the pandemic. The study highlighted education loss for all and disrupted future expectations.

Background Worldwide, governments have implemented restrictions on movement and gatherings to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have a right to express their opinion on matters of concern to them. The study aimed to describe and analyse how adolescents in the capital Bissau understood the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic and their lived experiences during the first 3 months of the pandemic. Methods Collaborators identified participants in five urban areas in Bissau in June 2020. Semistructured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 30 adolescents aged 15–17 years, attending private and public schools or out-of-school. The interviews were conducted in Kriol, recorded, transcribed, translated and analysed. Results All the participants were heavily affected by the confinement measures during a state of emergency. Almost all believed in the realness of coronavirus while there were some doubts about its arrival in the country. The consequences were staying at home, enforced with increased police violence. At the same time, other violence on the streets or between neighbours had decreased. A few participants said they liked staying at home because they appreciated spending more time with their families. Most participants claimed that they and their family members tried to follow preventive measures. Almost all participants voiced concerns about the worsening financial situation at home, leading to food scarcity. Nearly all the adolescents were tired of the lockdown and worried about the pandemic’s implications on their future opportunities. Conclusions Study participants, here adolescents in Bissau, have a clear notion of their existence and the current situation’s potential negative impact on their future. Their voices need to be heard and acted on, which may soften the lockdown’s negative impact on adolescents in Guinea-Bissau, as elsewhere.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a cash crop with a highly significant economic importance in West Africa, particularly in Guinea-Bissau (Monteiro et al. 2015, 2017). In October 2018, dieback-...

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the West African region has highly diverse agro-climatic conditions, which grant the potential for a remarkable agricultural production of a great diversity of crops. Since the 1980s, the production volumes of most crops have grown vigorously for both domestic and export markets. Traditional food crops—such as rice, groundnuts and sorghum—have been replaced by cash crops, namely cashew. Among the main cashew production areas, West Africa is the most recent and dynamic in the world, accounting for 45% of the worldwide production of cashew nuts in 2015. In consequence, cashew cultivation has acquired an important position in West African smallholder farming, providing positive economic and social effects. In this paper, we provide an overview of the cashew production system in the West African region, using Guinea-Bissau as a case study. In particular, we present some viewpoints concerning the impact of cashew production and discuss how the strong dependence on a single cash crop can compromise the local livelihoods and food security. Finally, some insights are given towards the sustainable production of cashew in the face of the recent risks affecting the agricultural sector in West Africa.