<p>To ensure a more sustainable shea sector and the development of improved shea (<i>Vitelleria paradoxa</i>) varieties, there is a need to understand and assess farmers’ traits and practices. This study assesses farmers’ knowledge of the morphological features of the shea tree for selection purposes. It identifies the constraints and determinants of shea tree preservation using survey data from 250 farmers in northern Ghana. The study results show that farmers identify shea trees by fruit traits, fruiting period, leaves, and nuts. Farmers differ significantly in their assessment of shea butter colour. Shea butter, food, medicine, fuel, and breast milk inducement are the shea tree’s main benefits to farmers. The major constraints of farmers in shea production and processing include lack of transportation services, finance, and lack of processing equipment and protective clothing. Several preservation strategies employed by the farmers include nurturing young seedlings, creating fire belts, pruning, and preventing tree cutting. The study found that shea tree preservation is statistically and significantly influenced by age, education, marital status, loss of shea trees, participation in shea tree conservation programmes in the community, and location of farmers. Based on the study’s findings, there is a need for development organizations to create more awareness among shea farmers regarding shea production management and preservation practices to build a solid base for germplasm selection and improvement.</p>