Лесные исследования: открытый доступ
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What Does the Status of Forest Conservation Reveal about Biodiversity of Tropical Forest?

I. Alassane*, Y. Y. Akin, M. A. Kolawole, C. A. I. N. Ouinsavi

Objective: Ecological monitoring and sustainable management of forest ecosystems require deep knowledge and understanding of biodiversity. Notwithstanding this, useful data are still limited in most of the tropical regions. This study assessed the status of biodiversity in sacred and classified forests in northwestern Benin.

Methodology and results: Woody plants were inventoried in 2 sacred and 3 classified forests within plot sizes of 50 × 30 m. Relative frequencies and Pearson Chi-square independence tests were performed to identify the top 20 and 10 families and species, respectively. Biodiversity indicators such as Shannon's entropy, species richness and Gini- Simpson index were assessed as well.

Conclusions and application of findings: In the present study, we reported 76 species belonging to 58 genera and 27 families. The most abundant families were Fabaceae, Sapotaceae, Combretaceae, Meliaceae, Anacardiaceae and Rubiaceae. We also found a strong association of species families with forest types. Shannon's entropy values and Gini-Simpson indices differed significantly among forests. The diversity indices values were higher in classified forests than in sacred ones. Both classified and sacred forest shelter mostly species interesting for populations and researchers. All the inventoried species are in the threatened species category on the IUCN red list, with 3 vulnerable species (Khaya senengalensis, Vitellaria paradoxa and Afzelia africana) and 2 endangered ones (Pterocarpus erinaceus and Garcinia sp). These results revealed the relevance of local strategies to protect natural resources and the need of additional strategic actions for sustainable biodiversity conservation and management of these forests under anthropogenic pressures.