Globally, human populations are rapidly converting large blocks of tropical old-growth forests into small forest patches, embedded within human-modified landscapes, consisting mostly of agricultural fields and pasture lands. Mount Oku commonly known as Kilum-Ijim, situated at the Northwestern Cameroon is recognized as a globally important center of endemism and a hotspot for biodiversity conservation but now undergoes unprecedented degradation. The aim of this study was to compare the diversity between primary and secondary forests in mount Oku (Cameroon) and determine whether species richness and composition are distinguishable in the two forest types. The vegetation was sampled in 102 plots according to a stratified sampling design so as to cover the altitudinal gradient from 1833 to 2772 m. Forty plots were located in primary forest and 62 in secondary forest. A set of 6 plant traits/characteristics associated with dispersal, establishment, and persistence functions were gathered. A total of 385 vascular plant species were present in the 102 plots. 243 species were common to primary and secondary forest plots, 69 were present exclusively in primary forest plots and 73 in secondary forest plots. The Indicator Species Analysis showed that 38 and 28 species were indicator of primary and secondary forests, respectively. The mean species richness per plot was 45.5 and 44.1 in primary and secondary forests, respectively. Only tree species richness was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the primary forest. The maximum height of vegetation and density of trees were respectively 19.42 m, 101 stems/ha in primary forest and 11.93 m, 36 stems/ha in secondary forest and show significant difference (p<0.001). Primary forest plots were characterized by phanerophytes, while secondary forest plots were characterized by geophytes and chamaephytes, able to propagate vegetatively and resist disturbances. Finally, there is need to urgently protect the last remnants of ancient forest for their biological value.
Cameroon has an amazing variety of local mangoes whose potential is poorly exploited. The aim of this study was to characterise the physical and morphological diversity of mangoes in two agro-ecological regions with high potential for mango production. This experiment was conducted between February and July 2021 using ten local mango varieties. These were 'German', 'Bamoun', 'Lady' and 'American' mangoes found in Noun and 'Papaya', 'Dshang Dshang 1', 'Dshang Dshang 2', 'Kousa Dog', 'Garoua' and 'Ladies' mangoes identified in Lekié. Ten ripe fruits of each variety were harvested on three different trees in the same area. A total of 23 morphological and physical parameters were measured. Multivariate analysis based on PCA showed four groups of varieties in decreasing order of importance: group 2 (Papaya, German and American mangoes), group 4 (Garoua, Dame Lékie, Kousa Dog), group 3 (Dshang Dshang 2, Dame Noun, Dshang Dshang 1) and group 1 (Bamoun). Group 2 varieties had good quality for pulp mass to stone mass ratio (5.58±1), size index (10.6±3.22), sphericity index (0.97±0.35), fruit volume (391.5) and lateral fruit diameter (11.05±0.89). However, varieties in group 1 (12.87±3.08) and group 3 (10.7±2.27) have a high proportion of kernels in the fruit and a high kernel density, respectively. There is a wide diversity among the varieties examined. This provides valuable information of the different stakeholders in the mango value chain, i.e., the industry, nurserymen and consumers.
In order to find the strategies to ensure the sustainable management of natural’s resources and especially woody plants in the Congo Basin, a study was carried out on the floristic diversity of woody plants and the structure of Garcinia kola formations in the Centre and East regions of Cameroon. A total of 39 quadrats of 40 m x 40 m were installed in the Garcinia kola formations in these two regions. In each plot, we identified and counted all individuals with a dbh ≥ 10 cm. Seedlings of G. kola (dbh<10 cm) were also counted in all the plots. The height and diameter of each individual were measured. ANOVA was used to compare the density averages of the different plots, and the DUNCAN test at 5% significance level (XLSTAT 2017) was used to separate these mean values. This study confirms that the Clusiaceae (G. kola) forms the floristic background of the stand studied. The surveys revealed a total of 196 species, 156 species (H '= 2.98) and 68 species (H' = 2.13), respectively, identified in the East and Centre among the population of individuals showing dbh ≥ 10 cm. They were distributed into 124 genera and 46 families. The most diversified families in G. kola formations are Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Sterculiaceae, Moraceae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Annonaceae, Rutaceae, Rubiaceae, and Clusiaceae. The average standing density of G. kola varies from 6.51 (East Region) to 40.72 (Centre Region) stems per hectare. The low density observed in the localities of the eastern region can be explained by the pressure exerted on this species in the natural environment linked mostly to methods of exploitation.
This study was carried out in the forest reserve of Mbalmayo, Center Region of Cameroon, with the aim to analyze the dynamics of land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the past 30 years. The databases used were made up of 3 Landsat satellite images (5TM of 1990, 7ETM+ of 2005 and 8OLI of 2020). The satellite images were processed using ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine software. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted to investigate the relationships between the local population and the forest reserve. The Mbalmayo forest reserve is consisted of seven main land cover namely: mature secondary forest, young secondary forest, savanna, fallows and crops, built, bare soil and water surface. The dynamics of the forest cover undergoes more significant changes between the years 1990-2005 with losses estimate at 4762 ha compared to the years 2005-2020 (2231 ha), with a marked decrease in the area of dense forests. This regression is much more important in dense forest vegetation. The forest cover lost 6993 ha (26.92%) of its surface, which corresponds to an average rate of deforestation of 233.1 ha/year. The survey revealed the need for NTFPs for the Mbalmayo reserve forest populations. Indeed, all respondents agreed that they use non-timber forest products from the forest, mainly for medication (37%), wood (34%) and food (24%). Therefore, it becomes urgent to redefine a management plan for the Mbalmayo forest reserve which will define how the forest must be managed in order to avoid the loss of large areas of forests disappearing each year under the human action, which exerts pressure on forest species, thus leading to their possible disappearance.
A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f oPrunus africana is important for its bark used in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia in SouthWest Cameroon which has led to overexploitation of natural population of the species. Prunus africana is listed as an endangered species. Despite the relevance of bark, little information on the effects of some ecological and anthropic factors on the survival and bark recovery rate of Prunus africana is known. Debarking followed a combination of four factors: season of bark harvesting, three stem diameter classes and three intensities of trunk circumference debarked. After debarking, trees were trimestrially monitored for a two years period during which the survival of the tree and the speed of regeneration of the bark were recorded. Results show a dead rate of 13.33%. The rate of recovery of the bark at low altitude was about 21.27 cm/year. The best season for debarking was the rainy season (27.49 cm/year). Trees with a weak diameter (20-30 cm) showed a low rate of recovery (18.28 cm/year) and also those whose bark were peeled on a surface of 75 % of the tree's diameter (29.09 cm/year). These factors have important implications in drawing strategies for sustainable harvesting, management and conservation of this species.
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