Diversity of melliferous plants in a forest ecosystem in the Sudanian zone: The case of the Badenou classified forest in northern Côte d’Ivoire

The practice of modern beekeeping around classified forests can generate income for local population and constitute a sustainable solution to deforestation. However, successful beekeeping requires the presence of honey-producing plants in the apiaries environment. Indeed, the quantity and quality of the honey obtained depend on the nature and abundance of plants foraged by the bees. This study aims to assess the diversity of the melliferous flora in the Badenou classified forest. Data was collected in the Badenou classified forest using floristic inventories and monthly observations of bee foraging activity carried out over a 12-month period. The recorded honey plant flora consists of 112 species belonging to 85 genera and 36 families. This melliferous flora is composed of herbaceous melliferous species (49.11%), shrubs (36.61%), trees (7.14%), bushes (3.57%), and vines (3.57%). Considering the nature of the nutrients collected by bees from flowers, the melliferous flora consists of nectar-polliniferous species (40.18%), nectariferous species (37.50%), and polliniferous species (22.32%). This reflects high proportions of species that provide nectar (77.68%) and pollen (62.50%) for bees. This work shows that the Badenou classified forest has a diverse honey plant flora for the development of modern beekeeping. However, taking into account the temporal availability of floral food resources for bees can consolidate the results obtained.