Ecology of Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae), an Endangered Timber Species in Southeastern Cameroon (original) (raw)
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Pericopsis elata (Harms) van Meeuwen is a tropical Africa's timber of high economic value. In many countries its low natural regeneration rate does not favor the replacement of harvested populations, thus CITES and IUCN recommended a total protection of the species. This survey aimed to characterize the early growth stages and natural regeneration of P. elata through the determination of seedlings distribution and structure. Squared plots of 2500 m² were installed around stumps and seed-bearing trees respectively in the logged and unlogged forest concessions at Ouesso, near Yokadouma, South-East Cameroon. Stumps, seed-bearing trees and seedlings were counted and their structural parameters (diameter and height) were recorded. A total of 56 plots corresponding to 14 ha were surveyed and 1069 seedlings were recorded. The rate of regeneration was 56% around stumps and 24.13% around seed-bearing trees. The spatial distribution of seedlings appears to be aggregated. Germination and seedling growth have shown that early growth stages of Pericopsis elata are not representing a relevant limiting factor for the evolution of population. However, the limited number of saplings and the lack of poles suggest that light could play an important role in the evolution of the early stages.
Forests, 2014
In central Africa, most of the timber species require high light at the seedling stage for survival and growth. Forest managers face a regeneration shortage of these light-demanding timber species. To achieve long-term sustainability, there is a need for enrichment methods combining low cost and high species performance. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of Pericopsis elata seedlings in enriched logging gaps in Cameroon. Over five years; the survival and size of each seedling was monitored in 27 logging gaps that were either left without maintenance or cleared. Gaps were relatively small with an average total area of 155 m 2. We found that planted seedlings of P. elata performed well in logging gaps. Even without any maintenance 61% of the planted seedlings survived after five years with an average annual diameter increment of 0.28 cm. P. elata appeared to be a good candidate species for enrichment in logging gaps. We demonstrated
International journal of innovation and scientific research, 2021
Three silvicultural experiments with Pericopsis elata were carried out in the Deng-Deng Forest Reserve in 1974 to understand the silviculture of this specie. However, this work has not yet yielded its full results. The objective of the present study is to construct productivity curves and evaluate the effect of silvicultural method and planting type on the height growth of Pericopsis elata. The data collected for this study came from 9 stem analyses carried out in the plantations. A fit to the Johnson-Schumacher model was performed. The variability of productivity curves between the three plantations indicates that there is a consistent relationship between silvicultural methods, planting types and Assamela fertility indices. Three levels of fertility were identified for each plantation at 40 years (H40): 18 m, 22 m and 26 m for P741; 12 m, 15 m and 18 m for P745 and 15 m, 20 m and 25 m for P746. The open field method shows the best growth performance in height (18 m ≤ Ht ≤ 26 m) regardless of plant type, compared to the layered method. Following the large layered silvicultural method, short stumps show better height growth (15 m ≤ Ht ≤ 25 m) than bagged seedlings (12 m ≤ Ht ≤ 18 m).
Forests, 2015
To develop silvicultural guidelines for high-value timber species of Central African moist forests, we assessed the performance of the pioneer Milicia excelsa (iroko, Moraceae), and of the non-pioneer light demander Pericopsis elata (assamela, Fabaceae) in logging gaps and in plantations in highly degraded areas in southeastern Cameroon. The survival and size of each seedling was regularly monitored in the silvicultural experiments. Differences in performance and allometry were tested between species in logging gaps and in plantations. The two species performance in logging gaps was significantly different from plantations and concurred with the expectations of the performance trade-off hypothesis but not with the expectations of species light requirements. The pioneer M. excelsa survived significantly better in logging gaps while the non-pioneer P. elata grew significantly faster in plantations. The high mortality and slow growth of M. excelsa in plantations is surprising
Ecology and management of Pericopsis elata (Harms) Meeuwen (Fabaceae) populations: a review
Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a valuable timber species occurring in moist semi-deciduous African forests. While it is at present substantially reduced, the tree's natural distribution previously covered several distinct areas from Côte d'Ivoire to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This species has been logged since the second half of the 20 th century. Because it suffers from a lack of regeneration, P. elata is now included in CITES Appendix II and is recorded as "Endangered A1cd" on the IUCN Red List. As with other long-lived light-demanding species, the survival of P. elata may have been favored by important disturbances that occurred in the Congo Basin during the last millennia. While both international trade and industrial uses of the wood of P. elata are well documented, information about its ecology are very sparse or contradictory, and even absent in some cases (e.g., regarding its effective flowering diameter). Furthermore, data describing the management of P. elata are scarce, including potential solutions to compensate for the deficit of natural regeneration. Along the same lines, genetic studies still remain at an early stage and only vague hypotheses have been offered to explain the origins of the tree's populations. We emphasize the need for new research on those topics. Further studies would be useful in deciding whether P. elata populations can continue to be logged without the species being threatened with extinction. Finally, such research needs to target effective and inexpensive management procedures that could secure the future of the species in a logging context.
International Journal of Sciences, 2017
Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a highly commercial species of semi-evergreen wet forests in central and western Africa. Its exploitation began in the second half of the 20th century because of its highly valued wood on the international market. Because of its low potential for natural regeneration, it is now considered an endangered species by IUCN and listed in Appendix II of CITES. No action was taken on the identification of good mother tree to enable good production of seedlings suitable for the management of logged forests of this species. Hence the need for new scientific investigation with a view to obtaining the missing information which would allow an unambiguous decision on the threats to the species. The objective of this study, which was conducted from November 2015 to July 2016, was to determine the diameter classes with the highest seed germination rate and the highest viability of the seedling seedlings at four months after sowing. To determine the germination rate, 100 seeds were tested for each diameter class. After germination, the seedlings were monitored for 120 days at the end of which the viability rate was calculated for each diameter class. Seeds from mother tree of the highest diameter classes [60-70cm[, [70-80cm[, [80-90cm[ and [90-100cm[ recorded the best germination rates with respectively 36, 42, 30 and 36%. The simple regression between germination rate and seed diameter classes is significant at the 5% probability threshold. The highest seedling viability rate of 98% is obtained with mother tree the diameter class [70-80cm[. However, it should be noted that the simple regression between plant viability and seed diameter classes have a fairly good relationship.
this study was conducted to determine the population structure and the status of natural regeneration for eight edible and/or commercial wild fruit tree species (Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Baillonella toxisperma, Irvingia gabonensis, Panda oleosa, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Scorodophloeus zenkeri and Tetrapleura tetraptera) in semi-deciduous rainforest of southeastern cameroon. We established 16 transects with 5 km in length and 20 m in width each. Along each transect, all individuals, from seedlings to mature trees, of the eight species were recorded and their diameter at breast height (Dbh) was measured. the results show high density values for Afrostyrax lepidophyllus (32.0 ± SD 26.1 stems/ ha), Ricinodendron heudelotii (10.3 ± 18.5 stems/ ha), Pentaclethra macrophylla (11.3 ± 8.2 stems/ ha) and Scorodophloeus zenkeri (7.4 ± 12.8 stems/ ha). the lowest density was reported for Baillonella toxisperma (0.1 ± 0.1 stems/ ha). the investigated species have numerous seedlings, saplings and young trees, except Baillonella toxisperma, Irvingia gabonensis, Panda oleosa and Tetrapleura tetraptera (0.04, 1.05, 0.51 and 0.37 individuals of Dbh < 5 cm per ha, respectively). they have relatively low natural regeneration index and are considered of priority for conservation in this forest. the study demonstrates the need to intensify the domestication or assisted natural regeneration of these wild fruit trees in degraded areas and to develop innovative approaches to multiple-use forestry, which could include ntfPs, timber and environmental services.
Growth and productivity of Pericopsis elata (Harms) Meeuwen in some forest plantations of Cameroon
Forest Science and Technology, 2012
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