Woody species composition, structure and diversity of vegetation of Kalfou Forest Reserve, Cameroon

Abstract

Studies were carried out in the Kalfou Forest Reserve to make an assessment of the flora diversity and to develop preservation guidelines facing the increase in its degradation. The composition of woody species, structure, diversity, density, dominance, frequency of species and family importance value were described and evaluated in all the forest reserve area. A total of 86 species representing 58 genera and 28 families of woody species were identified. The families of Combretaceae, Fabaceaecaesalpinioideae and Fabaceae-mimosoideae were the most abundant families in the Kalfou Forest Reserve. The density of stems ≥ 10 cm circumference and the basal area were higher in the Doulouk and Gonoray parts of the reserve. The distribution of stems of the main species in classes of circumference had shown a reverse "J" shaped curve. The number of stems of shrubs species was important and strongly influenced globally the diameter and the height of the stems which were lower. Species diversity was a slight difference among the various parts of the forest reserve area. The species abundance showed that, 20% of the species were infrequent. The dynamic of renewal of species were ensured by the weakly regeneration: seedling (2.03%), rejection issues (41.97%) and the death rate of individual species was 8.02%. Disturbances and the vulnerability of the seedlings did not ensure species sustainability. Preservation systems and adequate management were therefore recommended in order to ensure sustainable management of the Kalfou Forest Reserve resources.

Assessment of Fuel Wood Values and the Influence of Wood Cutting on the Easily Flooded Plain Woodland of the Sahelian Area, Cameroon

“…In the mosaic species enumerated, 18 species were mainly exploited for the charcoal. Similar species were described and identified as the most exploited for fuel wood by [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] identified 54 species exploited for fuel wood in which 5 species were used for charcoal production in the forest area. The strength of the whole cut down of stems was 20.91 % and that of partial cut was 9.64 %.…”

“…The annual production of the firewood was significant and during these three last years the exploited quantities knew a regression [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Showed that a significant quantity of wood was exploited to supply Maroua and N'Djamena towns in Cameroon and Chad, respectively.…”

“…In this regard, there is no adequacy between the quantities taken, consumed, compared with the potential available of the resources in fields. The exploitation manner is dangerously threatened on the woody cover [15,16]. Studies provided basic elements starting from landSat and the structure of woody cover in this characteristic right up to the dry savannas zone, but no study is carried on the exploitation of fuel wood, its socio-economic value and its ecological result given on woody species.…”

The World Flora Online, Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, and the Species Plantarum Programme: Flora of the World: Compatible Concepts or Mutually Exclusive Mandates?

“…The low sampling can explain these results. Ntoupka (1999) and Froumsia et al (2012) found 53 and 86 woody species respectively in the Kalfou and Laf forest reserves. The increase of inventoried surface area can provide best knowledge of woody plant richness in sacred forest in Diamare plain.…”

“…Each of these climatic zones contains several ecological landscapes with a rich biological diversity as reported by several decades of scientific research (Froumsia et al, 2012;Donfack, 1998;Fongnzossie, 2011;Lawton et al, 1998;Kemeuze, 2010). These landscapes are undergoing changes due to human activity in the sector of land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) (Madi et al, 2003 ;Wafo Tabopda, 2008 ;Fotsing, 2009;Ntoupka, 1999;Moritz et al, 2010).…”