Structural characterization of over-exploited forest species: Case of Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae) in Cte dIvoire

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to define the structural characteristics and spatial distribution of endangered Garcinia kola in Côte d'Ivoire, in order to ensure sustainable management of the species. The study was conducted in two natural growth zones (Affery and Biankouma) of the species and involved 94 trees with a minimum diameter of 10 cm measured at 1.30 m from the ground. The data collection method consisted of a mobile inventory within 100 m × 100 m plots. The study revealed that G. kola has an aggregated distribution. Both stands are dominated by medium class trees, [30-40 cm], [40-50 cm], [50-60 cm]. Modeling of all trees in each stand, divided into diameter classes according to the Weibull distribution, shows that G. kola has a low regeneration potential, with a shape parameter c = 2.41 and 1.74. In addition, basal area and tree density are very low. Sustainable management of this species therefore requires awareness of its domestication.

Drivers of carbon stocks in Araucaria forests

“…The shape parameter of the two-parameter Weibull function was computed in order to describe the structure of the A. angustifolia. In summary, values close to 1 indicated young populations with more small trees, while values greater than 3.6 denoted old populations with a predominance of larger trees [33]. The Weibull function was calibrated using the maximum likelihood method in the tdistrplus package [34].…”