TITLE:
Natural Distribution of Nauclea diderrichii (Rubiceae) in Semi Deciduous Forest of Togo (West Africa) and Implementation of Integrated Silviculture
AUTHORS:
Kossi Adjonou, Yaovi Nuto, Paul P. Bosu, Stephen Adu-Bredu, Adzo Dzifa Kokutse, Kouami Kokou
KEYWORDS:
Litimé; Tropical Forests; Degradation; Biodiversity; Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild. & Th. Dur.) Merrill
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.9,
April
4,
2014
ABSTRACT:
West African
tropical forests spread from Senegal to Togo. They are considered as one of the
world biodiversity hotspots. But these forests are disappearing very quickly
because of human activities. In Togo, tropical forests degradation has been
increased since 1980 because of improved coffee cultivation; about 67% of
forests in the sub-humid mountains zone disappeared between 1978 and 2000.
Facing this fast deterioration of the forests, populations begin to plant teak
(an exotic species) that is the only choice proposed by local forest service.
This survey consists in valuing the potentialities to restore the Togolese
tropical forest using the local commercial species, recognized on the wood
market. The first species retained is Nauclea
diderrichii (De Wild. & Th. Dur.) Merrill, that spreads in the African
tropical forest from the Sierra Leonne to Uganda and through the Congo basin.
In Togo, this plant species colonises the plain of the Litimé. The objective of
the present study is to analyze the distribution of the natural populations in
the plain of Litimé forest but also natural and artificial regeneration of the
species. The perspective is to repeat this experiment with other local species
in other regions of Togo in order to diversify the plantations and to protect
the local forest biodiversity.