Availability and Socioeconomic Value of Garcinia kola Heckel, a Species Locally Extinct‐in‐The‐Wild in Benin, West Africa

The persistence of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) under increasing ecological and socioeconomic pressures remains a key issue in resilience research. Garcinia kola , a culturally and medicinally important West African tree species, is functionally extinct in its natural habitats in Benin because of overharvesting, habitat loss, and poor regeneration, yet its seeds continue to be widely traded. However, knowledge of its value chain, supply dynamics, and benefit distribution among actors remains limited. Drawing on primary data from major markets in Benin, this study examined the origin of supply, seasonal availability, actor composition, and market performance indicators for G. kola . A total of 230 individuals were surveyed, and participants were selected using snowball sampling. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results reveal that nearly half (47.7%) of nuts originate from home gardens, which represent ex situ conservation and production systems for the species in Benin, while Nigeria (21.5%), Togo (14.5%), and Ghana (14.5%) constitute major regional suppliers, with Côte d’Ivoire playing a marginal role (1.9%). Retailers dominate the trade (55.6%), followed by producers (39.1%), with wholesalers (5.2%) acting as critical but fewer intermediaries. Seasonal analysis showed pronounced fluctuations in availability across cities, with abundance during dry‐season months (November–February) and scarcity during rainy‐season months (April–July). The results stressed on significant disparities between wholesalers and retailers in average revenue ($535.84 vs. $97.70), traded volume (38.55 kg vs. 8.68 kg), and margins ($485.21 vs. $80.39), highlighting unequal value capture within the chain. Our findings underscore the dual challenge of conserving G. kola genetic resources while sustaining the livelihoods of actors dependent on its trade.