DIVERSITY, STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS AND NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN THE FOREST RESERVE OF BONEPOUPA (DOUALA, CAMEROON)

<p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509810538">http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509812363</a></p><p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509810538"></a>In order to come up with a sustainable use of forest ecosystems in Cameroon, its vegetal diversity has been inventoried; the plant potentials and the structural parameters were studied in the forest reserve of Bonepoupa. Ten non-continuous plots of 200 m² were done and the materialization of the lines was done with a topofil put at the centre of the field with ropes at 5 m each of the topofil. In addition, ninety people were interviewed in order to know the potential use of species in this region. Up to 172 individuals with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm divided into 27 species, 25 genera and 18 families were inventoried and the coefficient of abundance-dominance was determined. The diversity index of Shannon (H’) was H’₁ = 4.17 ± 0.45 with H’₁max = 4.75 and the evenness was R₁ = 0.88. Taking into account herbaceous species, H’ determined by the coefficient of abundance-dominance was H’₂ = 4.74 ± 0.56 with H’₂max = 5.70 and the evenness was R₂ = 0.83. The total basal area was 19.69 m²/ha and the density was 860 individuals/ha. These results indicate that herbaceous significantly modifies the value of the diversity index and that forest reserve of Bonepoupa is experiencing a problem of conservation which is due to a lack of its appropriate management. The knowledge of non-timber forest products and their use as food as well as medicinal resources by local population might be helpful for the sustainable management of resources in this forest reserve.