Assessing plant diversity change in logged and unlogged dense semi-deciduous production forest of eastern Cameroon

This study was carried out in the dense semi-deciduous production forest of East Cameroon. The objective of this work of this study was to provide comparative floristic knowledge that can serve as a basis for the planning and sustainable management of ligneous plant resources in Communal Forests before and after logging. Sampling was done in unlogged and logged forest. Data collection was carried out using the linear transects subdivided into 10 plots of 25 m × 20 m (500 m²) with an equidistance of 225 m for the inventory of all trees with dbh ≥10 cm installed measured at 1.3 m above ground level. Nested quadrats 5 m × 5 m, oriented south-west and north-east were set up in each plot for the counting and identification of all individuals with a diameter less than 10 cm. The analysis of inventory data showed that the floristic composition was higher in the unlogged forest. The individuals were more evenly distributed in the logged (Pielou's equitability index = 0.83) than in the unlogged forest. The study of the functional spectra showed that the flora of the two forest types was dominated by Guinean-Congolese species (67.57% in the unlogged forest and 63.07% in the logged forest) and Phanerophytes, particularly Mesophanerophytes. The dominance of sarcochorous species reveals that the main mode of dissemination in this forest is zoochory, particularly endozoochory. The presence of pleochroic species in the logged forest reveals the importance of dissemination by water in the environment. The plants surveyed were divided into five plant assemblages (three for logged forest and two for unlogged forest) based on ecological parameters. The findings of this study suggest that forest management which combines assisted natural regeneration with the natural process of secondary succession facilitates the reconstitution of the vegetation cover and, by extension, the conservation of biodiversity in post-logging forest concessions.