MANAGEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY UNDER EUCALYPTUS AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS IN CENTRAL AFRICA: AN CASE STUDY IN THE SUDANO-SAHELIAN ZONE AND THE HIGH GUINEAN SAVANNAH ZONE OF CAMEROON
Authors: Maurice Roland Hamadou, Dangaï Youhana, Djongmo Victor Awé, Hamawa Y., Oumarou Z H., Noumi Valery Noiha and Mapongmetsem Pierre Marie
Maurice Roland Hamadou: Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Dangaï Youhana: Laboratory of Agroecology and Agricultural Sciences, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Wood, Water Resources and Environment. The University of Bertoua, P. O. Box 416 Bertoua Cameroon.
Djongmo Victor Awé: Laboratory of Agroecology and Agricultural Sciences, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Wood, Water Resources and Environment. The University of Bertoua, P. O. Box 416 Bertoua Cameroon.
Hamawa Y.: National School of Higher Engineering. The University of Maroua P. O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon.
Oumarou Z.H.: Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Noumi Valery Noiha: Higher Teacher Training College of Bertoua, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Mapongmetsem Pierre Marie: Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the diversity and structure of the understory vegetation in
eucalyptus agro-ecosystems based on age. In zone I, there were 5671 individuals across 13
families, 19 genera, and 21 species, whereas in zone II, there were 21323 individuals from 24
families, 45 genera, and 65 species. Eucalyptus agro-ecosystems in zone II exhibited higher
understory species richness compared to zone I. The most abundant family in zone I was
Caesalpiniaceae, followed by Anacardiaceae and Verbenaceae. In zone II, the most
represented family was Clusiaceae, Hymenocardiaceae and Myrtaceae. The average density
was highest in 10–20-year-old plantations in the Ngaoundere I/II district (433 ± 84.7 indiv/ha).
Basal area increased with age, ranging from 1.35 ± 0.32 m²/ha to 17.59 ± 3.71 m²/ha. In zone I, an exponentially decreasing, steep-sloped, and inverted (J-shaped) structure that better fit a
fifth-degree polynomial function was observed in all plots. This information constitutes in
order to elaborate management plans in view of a lasting management.
Keywords: Agro-ecosystems, Zone I, Zone II, diversity, Cameroon.