Indigenous trees play key roles in West African landscapes, such as the néré tree (Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.Don). We applied social–ecological network analysis to understand the social–ecological interactions around néré. We documented the benefits néré provides and the multiple social interactions it creates amongst a large range of actors. The flows of rights over the trees and benefits from them formed two hierarchical networks, or cascades, with different actors at the top. The two forms of power revealed by the two cascades of rights and benefits suggest possible powers and counter-powers across gender, ethnicity, and age. We documented how the tree catalyses social interactions across diverse groups to sustain vital social connections, and co-constitute places, culture, and relationships. We argue that a paradigm shift is urgently needed to leverage the remarkable untapped potential of indigenous trees and Cultural Keystone Species in current global restoration and climate change agendas.

土著树木在西非景观中发挥着关键作用，例如 néré 树 ( Parkia biglobosa(Jacq.) R.Br. 前 G.唐）。我们应用社会生态网络分析来了解 néré 周围的社会生态互动。我们记录了 néré 提供的好处以及它在众多参与者之间创造的多种社会互动。对树木的权利和利益的流动形成了两个层次网络，或级联，顶部有不同的参与者。权利和利益的两个级联所揭示的两种权力形式暗示了跨性别、种族和年龄的可能权力和反权力。我们记录了这棵树如何催化不同群体之间的社会互动，以维持重要的社会联系，并共同构成地方、文化和关系。