VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND SPECIES COMPOSITION AT THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE BOUMBA-BEK NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHEASTERN CAMEROON

Abstract

Forest conservation outside protected areas is taking center stage in global conservation discourse. This study was conducted to clarify the species composition, vegetation structure and plant diversity at the northern periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park, whose timber and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have been used by the local peoples and logging companies. A total of 16 transects measuring 5 km in length and 5 m in width were delineated. The survey recorded DBH of all tree individuals above 10 cm. The result shows a total number of 17, 583 trees with a density of 439.6 stems/ha (total area = 40 ha). These trees belong to 51 families, 169 genera and 247 species. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') ranged from 5.94 to 6.51 and higher diversity was recorded in the Agroforest Zone. The family importance index (FIV) marked highest score for Euphorbiaceae and Combretaceae. The importance index for species (IVI) was higher for Terminalia superba, Musanga cecropioides, Anonidium mannii and Celtis mildbraedii. The height-class distribution of the species shows that the majority of trees belong to the height-class of 5–20 m, which accounts for the average of 87.4% of total stems. The diameter-class distribution of the trees shows an inverse J-shape curve. The study concludes that this forest, despite having undergone disturbance in past years driven by logging and agriculture, is relatively rich and diversified.