Expériences sylvicoles au Cameroun : Croissance, mortalité et adaptabilité des espèces de bois d’oeuvre dans la station forestière de Mangombé (1964 - 2010)

Abstract

In Cameroon, logging has led to a reduction in forest cover and an impoverishment of several wood species. To solve this problem, many forest plantations had been created, then abandoned a few decades later for various reasons. This did not make it possible for foresters and policy makers to acquire expected knowledge from these experiences, which would have led to forest rehabilitation and reduced the risk of commercial wood extinction. Mangombe tree plantation is part of these experiences, which is a remnant of 15 out of 40 originally planted tree species distributed in 27 plots. This work presents the state of Mangombe forest plantation through the study of the growth, mortality of the trees and adaptability of species. All the trees were censored and their diameters measured in each plot. These measurements facilitate the establishment of the population structure and appreciate the economic profitability of the species. The best growth performances of trees were obtained with Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Gme-1 : 56 m²/ha) ; Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don (Ara-1 : 63 m²/ha) and Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Auc-3 : 80 m²/ha). High values of standard deviations indicate a disproportionate growth of the individuals inside the plot. Species presenting a low mortality and a significant proportion of exploited stems as well as good growth characteristics such as G. arborea, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Gift. (51 m²/ha) and A. klaineana were better adapted to the site and can be recommended for future initiatives of afforestation in the zone. The low production of certain species is economically non profitable considering the high investment during the establishment of the plantation.