Data for: Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits Data för: Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits 2024-622-1 SLU.vfm.2024.4.4.IÄ-1 https://doi.org/10.5878/vz8y-kd07 Swedish National Data Service Svensk nationell datatjänst Landing page Data for: Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits Data för: Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits 2024-622-1 SLU.vfm.2024.4.4.IÄ-1 https://doi.org/10.5878/vz8y-kd07 10.1111/csp2.70209 Rakotovao, Minoseheno Rakotovao, Minoseheno Holmes, Sheila Holmes, Sheila Razafindratsima, Onja Razafindratsima, Onja Brown, Kerry Brown, Kerry 2020-03239 2020-03239 RAKOMADA0622-00 Swedish National Data Service Svensk nationell datatjänst Landing page renewable natural resources förnybara naturresurser tree species trädslag Energy and natural resources Energi och naturresurser Plants and animals Växter och djur The dataset consists of three files: tree species preference of both men and women and plant trait data. The present study was conducted at five sites across the eastern humid forest of Madagascar. We conducted separate focus groups for men and women. The first and second data materials summarize tree species preferences for each of nine use categories - charcoal, firewood, beam, roof, plank, furniture, spade, pestle and mortar – from men’s and women’s focus groups, respectively. For each use category, tree species were ranked in order of preference, and the value for each use category represents the mean ranking of each species. A higher ranking indicates greater preference for the species. The third data file contains the trait data for each plant species, including bark thickness, height, diameter at 1.3m height (DBH), specific leaf area (SLA), and wood specific gravity (WSG). It also includes the average distance (measured in walking time, converted by us to meters) that would be required for community members to harvest that species, if they were to do so. We sampled the traits of 3 - 6 adult individuals per species to obtain an average value. The bark data from Ranomafana was collected at an earlier date by Onja Razafindratsima and Kerry Brown. In the study we used additional trait data from Ranomafana that had been previously published, so we have not included it here - readers can find links to all datasets in the article. Datasetet består av tre filer: trädartspreferenser för både män och kvinnor och data om växtegenskaper. Se beskrivningen på engelska för en fullständig beskrivning. Madagascar Madagaskar Geographic unitGeographic unit Geografisk enhetGeografisk enhet ObjectObject FöremålFöremål This research refers to both human populations and tree species in the Eastern Rainforest ecoregion of Madagascar. Denna forskning avser både mänskliga populationer och trädarter i den östra regnskogens ekoregion på Madagaskar. Numeric Text Cross-sectionCross-section TvärsnittTvärsnitt To examine the preference of tree species for different uses, we selected 18 communities that live within 15 km from the forest; three to five communities per site. We conducted separate focus groups for men (n = 19) and women (n = 19), one to two focus groups per gender per community, depending on community size, with each consisting of four to six participants. To examine the availability of tree species, we interviewed a total of 614 households for how much time they would have to walk to harvest each tree species. We interviewed the head of the household present, either male or female. We mapped each community, finding all the houses on the outside edges. We then walked back through the village in a zigzag pattern, interviewing every third to fifth household, to get a representative sample of the village population. The number of the households sampled depended on the community size, and was selected to reach a total of 70-180 households per site. We used numbered questionnaires to track the number of interviews completed, but did not associate numbers with any identifying information. We collected only the gender and age structure of the household. Though we obtained informed consent, we did not record the names of either focus group or household members.To examine the preference of tree species for different uses, we selected 18 communities that live within 15 km from the forest; three to five communities per site. We conducted separate focus groups for men (n = 19) and women (n = 19), one to two focus groups per gender per community, depending on community size, with each consisting of four to six participants. To examine the availability of tree species, we interviewed a total of 614 households for how much time they would have to walk to harvest each tree species. We interviewed the head of the household present, either male or female. We mapped each community, finding all the houses on the outside edges. We then walked back through the village in a zigzag pattern, interviewing every third to fifth household, to get a representative sample of the village population. The number of the households sampled depended on the community size, and was selected to reach a total of 70-180 households per site. We used numbered questionnaires to track the number of interviews completed, but did not associate numbers with any identifying information. We collected only the gender and age structure of the household. Though we obtained informed consent, we did not record the names of either focus group or household members. Access to data through SND. Data are freely accessible. Åtkomst till data via SND. Data är fritt tillgängliga. openAccess Rakotovao, M., Borgerson, C., Brown, K. A., Cromsigt, J. P. G. M., Johnson, S. E., Razafindratsima, O. H., Mendum, R., Andrianjatovo, O. O., Ravaomanalina, H. B., Andriantsaralaza, S., & Holmes, S. M. (2025). Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits. Conservation Science and Practice, 8 (2), e70209. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70209 Rakotovao, M., Borgerson, C., Brown, K. A., Cromsigt, J. P. G. M., Johnson, S. E., Razafindratsima, O. H., Mendum, R., Andrianjatovo, O. O., Ravaomanalina, H. B., Andriantsaralaza, S., & Holmes, S. M. (2025). Communities with diverse subsistence needs require a variety of functional tree traits. Conservation Science and Practice, 8 (2), e70209. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70209 10.1111/csp2.70209 2025