In the area of Lakota (Midwest, Côte d'Ivoire), where the vegetation is a semi-deciduous forest, cacao growing is practiced by people from different origins. Cacao cropping techniques seem to be influenced by some social and cultural habits, according to the people and the agroecological areas. The present study aimed to understand(1) the cacao cropping systems and to identify(2) the reasons underlying the choice of vegetal species combined to cacao trees in these rural communities. To achieve this goal, interviews were realised with cacao farmers of four villages of the area. These interviews concern farmers’ profiles, the former agriculture practices, the variety of the cultivated cacao and the plants combined to cacao trees. The results show that among the 223 interviewed farmers, 72 (32.3% of the farmers) are natives, 42 (18.8% of the farmers) are immigrants and 109 (48.9% of the farmers) are non-native Ivorians. In total, 77 species regularly combined to cacao trees were named by the farmers and they can be divided into local species and exotic species. Plots ordination shows three agroforestry systems according to ethnic group of the locality. Cacao farms with the large proportion of local species are owned by Lakota native people "Dida". The exotic species are dominant in cacao farms that belong to immigrants (Malian, Burkina Faso and Guinean people) and "Malinké" people (a non-native ivorian ethnic group). The Akan people (a non-native ivorian ethnic group) combine in a same proportions exotic and local species in their cacao farms.

The Bingerville Botanical Garden is an urban green space which can contribute to the quality of the living environment and to attractivity of tourists in Abidjan city. Its floristic diversity and socio-economic and ecological benefits remain still unknown. The present study was conducted to assess botanical species diversity and the reduction of CO 2 emissions in this space. Trees species with dbh ≥ 10 cm were recorded in 41 plots of 500 m² surveyed in four types of biotopes: two arboretums with 20 and 100 years old, one secondary forest with more than 100 years and a fallow of 20 years old. Floristic indices and aboveground biomass (AGB) were determined for each biotope. A total of 742 trees with dbh ≥ 10 were counted: 127 species. Preponderance species are Cassia siamea, Terminalia mantaly, Milicia excelsa and Ceiba pentandra in arboretums, Pentadesma butyracea and Acacia mangium in the secondary forest, Ficus exasperata and Borassus aethiopum in the fallow. Arboretums are richest (96 species), and they have more AGB (566.7 t/ha). The secondary forest has 71 species with an aboveground equal to 381.4 t/ha. The fallow is less rich (13 species) with an AGB of 21 t/ha. This study has shown the importance of Bingerville Botanical Garden in plant and fighting against climate change. RésuméLe Jardin Botanique de Bingerville (JBB) est un espace vert urbain qui peut contribuer à la qualité du cadre de vie et à l'attractivité des touristes dans la ville d'Abidjan. Ses caractéristiques floristiques et ses bienfaits socio-économiques et écologiques demeurent encore mal connus. La présente étude a été menée pour mettre en exergue le rôle que peut jouer cet espace dans la conservation des espèces végétales et la réduction des émissions de CO 2 . Des inventaires d'espèces arborescentes de dbh ≥ 10 cm, ont été réalisés dans 41 placettes de 500 m² mises en place dans quatre types de biotopes: deux arboretums âgés de 20 et 100 ans, une forêt secondaire de plus de 100 ans et une jachère de 20 ans. Des indices de diversité et la composition floristiques ainsi que la biomasse végétale aérienne ont été déterminés pour chacun de ces biotopes. Au total 742 arbres de dbh ≥ 10 cm ont été recensés. Ils se répartissent entre 127 espèces dont les plus prépondérantes sont Cassia siamea, Terminalia mantaly, Milicia excelsa et Ceiba pentandra dans les arboretums, Pentadesma butyracea et Acacia mangium dans la forêt secondaire, Ficus exasperata et Borassus aethiopum dans la jachère. Les arboretums sont les plus riches (96 espèces); ils présentent la plus forte biomasse aérienne (566,7 t/ha). La forêt secondaire avec 71 espèces, a une biomasse de 381,4 t/ha. La jachère a la plus faible richesse (13 espèces) avec une biomasse aérienne de 21 t/ha. Cette étude démontre l'importance du Jardin Botanique de Bingerville dans la conservation de la diversité arborée et la séquestration du carbone atmosphérique.

Objective: The Tanoé-Ehy Forest (FMTE) has been identified as a top priority site for primate conservation in West Africa. Pending the completion of the measures of its final classification in protected area, anthropic pressures are constantly nibbling the types of habitat that the FMTE contains. The objective of the present study was to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of this forest from 1986 to 2016. The study consisted in mapping and following through Landsat satellite images from 1986, 2000, and 2016 the dynamics of the land use that constitute the FMTE. To better understand the underpinnings of this evolution, based on anthropogenic threats, surveys were carried out in the five villages closest to the forest. Treatments show a 10% degradation of swamp forest area to degraded forests in 30 years. The habitats temporarily flooded forests remained intact during this 30 years period, reflecting efforts to maintain the integrity of the FMTE. Surveys have shown that the types of pressure and their intensity vary from peripheral villages. Overall, this involves wood harvesting and hunting. In view of the importance of the FMTE in terms of a particular ecosystem and the conservation of biodiversity, it is desirable and urgent that, in addition to awareness-raising campaigns for local populations, the process of its final ranking be accelerated to end its degradation.

In Côte d'Ivoire, Azagny National Park has a small forest elephants population, described as isolated, self-contained and whose survival depends on the diversity of local biological resources. A study was undertaken to assess the diversity of the plant species consumed and the feeding preference of this large mammal. Pedestrian surveys were carried out in the different biotopes traveled by the elephants during one year, in search of fresh and old traces of nutrition and droppings. As a result of these inventories, six organs of 282 plant species have been identified has consumed by elephant. In this plant species list, three families are the most represented: the Apocynaceae, the Euphorbiaceae and the Rubiaceae. Among the elephant diet, five species appear to be the most consumed: Aframomum melegueta (1.45%), Aframomum sceptrum (1.45%), Sacoglottis gabonensis (1.27%), Echinochloa pyramidalis (1.2%) and Albizia adianthifolia (1.2%). Considering the number and type of organs harvested from plants, the study reveals that they varied from one species to another well. In general, leaves (256 species 90.8%) and fruits (95 species or 33.7%) have emerged as the most consumed organs of elephants. In view of this diet importance in elephant survival in the park, it would be important to identify the type of species consumed seasonally and to assess their availability in each of the biotopes traveled.

The vegetation and the afforestation of agricultural land non-forest represent a potential increase in carbon stocks which could, under certain conditions and within certain limits, compensate part of the emissions resulting from the use of fossil fuels and deforestations. Quantification of stocks of biomass and carbon dioxide contained in agroforestry systems has become an international priority within the framework of the implementation of REDD+ mechanism. Estimates of stocks of carbon in woody biomass, dead organic matter, belowground biomass, litter, herbaceous and lianas plant biomass were incorporated in allometric equation based on non-destructive method. The total carbon stock evaluated in the parkland of Tectona grandis was 207.34 ton/3ha out of which woody biomass accounted for 130.19 ton/3ha belowground biomass (40.4 ton/3ha), dead organic matter (22.85 ton/3ha), litter (9.09 ton/3ha), herbaceous plant biomass (2.28 ton/3ha) and lianas (2.53 ton/3ha). The aboveground biomass therefore contributed approximately 62.80 % of the total stock of carbon assessed. This show the considerable contribution of Tectona grandis parkland to climate change mitigation in Cameroon.