Plant resources, which are important sources of medical care
and food for rural people, are poorly managed due to the strong human influence. This diagnostic study
assesses the ethnobotanical knowledge of rural populations in Benin, in order to analyze
the level of conservation in relation to old collections from the years 1935 and 1940
carried out by Laffite. The data collection method consists of
ethnobotanical surveys and floristic surveys. In total, 232 useful species were collected, including
25.86% identified by Laffite. Among them, 96% are used in
traditional medicine, 20% in spirituality, 13% in food and 3% in technology. Some
species mentioned by Laffite have disappeared (Milletia thonningii, Premna hispida,
Bryophyllum pinnatum, Spilanthes uliginosa, Caesalpinia bonduc, Tephrosia vogelii and
Cissampelos mucronata) from the land, while others are vulnerable in decline (Afraegle paniculata, Antiaris toxicaria, Carissa edulis, Commiphora africana, Crateva adansonii, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Securidaca longipedunculata, Leptadenia hastata, and Tylophora


Camerunica). Urbanization, itinerant agriculture, climate change and
the introduction of exotic species are all factors that explain this vulnerability. The
adoption of protective measures, the installation of hut gardens and the adoption of sustainable
management approaches for this phytodiversity useful to populations are urgent.