Diversity, family dominance, life forms and ecological strategies of forest fragments compared to continuous forest in southwestern Cote d'lvoire

BAKAYOKO, A., P. MARTIN, C. CHATELAIN, D. TRAORE & L. GAUTIER (2011). Diversity, family dominance, life forms and ecological strategies of forest fragments compared to continuous forest in southwestern Cote d'Ivoire. condollea 66: 255-262. In English, English and French abstracts. Extensive agriculture and timber exploitation are the principal causes of forest destruction in Ivory Coast. This country has an annual deforestation rate of 1.1 to 2.9% which is the highest in Africa. Most Ivorian forests consist of protected areas and of forest fragments embedded in a secondary landscape composed of a mosaic of cultivated fields, fallows and perennial crops plantations. Southwestern Cote d'Ivoire which is our study area, is one of the rare areas where we can still find significant continuous forests blocks (classified forests of Goin-Debe and Cavally, and Tai National Park). This part of Ivorian forest is rich in narrow endemic species (so-called Sassandriennes species) and is one of the hotspots of biodiversity. Considering the floristic characteristics of the study area, the human pressure which also extends to protected areas, and the disastrous consequences on the biodiversity, it becomes a critical issue to assess the impact of forest fragmentation on floristic composition and diversity. Results of this study indicate that impact of isolation and further direct human disturbances on forest fragments lead to an increase of secondary and pioneers strategies and liana life forms. However, resilience of a high proportion of primary species including Sassandriennes endemics in fragments induce an increase in global richness and diversity and demonstrate that promoting their conservation in southwestern Ivory Coast can substantially contribute to general conservation of plant species. Political authorities and conservation agencies should become aware of the urgent need of appropriate conservation policy for these forest fragments.