Forest activities drive diversity and structure in the tropical rainforest

Abstract

Logging is widely known to be one of the major drivers of the loss of timber resources in tropical rainforests. In order to assess the contribution of this activity to biodiversity and carbon storage in Cameroon's Forest Management Units, this study was carried out in three Annual Allowable Cuts (AAC), of which two were logged, AAC 1‐1 (logged two years before), AAC 1‐2 (logged one year before) and one unlogged (AAC 1‐4). On each stand, 100 sampling plots of 20 m × 20 m were laid. The plot survey assessed the diversity indices, basal area, Aboveground Biomass, wood density, total height and importance value index of the tree species having ≥10 cm diameter at breast height. A total of 203 species belonging to 158 genera and 58 families were recorded. Piptadeniastrum africanum (7.21), Sterculia rhinopetala (23.35) and Ceiba pentandra (14.5) were the commonly traded species with the highest importance value index, respectively, for AAC 1‐1, 1‐2, and 1‐4. Non‐symmetric correspondence analysis (NSCA) revealed that the plots in AAC 1‐4 are more diverse, containing more biomass than those in AAC 1‐1 and 1‐2. Although selective logging has reduced species richness, it remains important to develop enrichment of species removed for ecosystem restoration.