Influence of Spatial Distribution on the Regeneration of <i>Piptadeniastrum africanum</i> and <i>Ocotea usambaernsis</i> in Kalikuku, Lubero, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

The aim of our study is to highlight the spatial structure of the trees and to determine its influence on the natural regeneration of the Kalikuku dense forest, with a view of its optimal conservation and enhancement. Data collection was done by measuring diameter at breast height along 10 plots of 0.5 ha in size. In analyzing these data, the Dajoz test was used to determine the horizontal spatial distribution pattern of the two most abundant tree species in the forest (Piptadeniastrum africanum and Ocotea usambarensis). The χ 2 test was used to compare the frequency distribution of diameter classes for the two species tested. To estimate the difference between the number of seedlings in aggregate versus non-aggregate areas, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. In addition, the equability index was used to test the preponderance of proportions between diameter classes. Finally, the natural regeneration index was evaluated.

Post Debarking Response of <i>Prunus africana</i> (Hook. F) Kalkman (<i>Rosaceae</i>) Trees at Two Exploitation Sites in North Kivu (Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo)

“…The soils of two areas are kaolisols derived from parent rock that is predominantly clay (Eloge et al, 2022;Moïse et al, 2022a;Moïse et al, 2022b). Indeed, these soils in the highlands of extreme North Kivu are essentially crystalline clayey and weakly ferralitic and probably date from the Lower Cambrian (Achille et al, 2021). Legend: P is the average monthly precipitation (mm), Tme is the average temperature, Tmin is the minimum temperature and Tmax is the maximum temperature (in ˚C) and RH is the relative humidity (%) for the period 1981 to 2021.…”

Effect of age, gender and formal education on endogenous knowledge of woody plants in communities bordering forest patches of the Lubero Mountain Massif (DR Congo)

“…(Ndavaro et al 2023). However, these woody plants are currently in a state of very severe deterioration and acute vulnerability due to their increasing overexploitation by local communities characterized by high population growth (Lutumba et al 2021;Kapiri et al 2023).…”