Effects of logging regimes on woody species diversity and stand structure in community forests adjacent to the Dja biosphere reserve, Cameroon
Paper Details
Effects of logging regimes on woody species diversity and stand structure in community forests adjacent to the Dja biosphere reserve, Cameroon
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of different logging regimes on woody species diversity and stand structure in three community forests (Adjane, Kompia and Nemeyong II) located in the peripheral zone of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, southeastern Cameroon. Floristic inventories and dendrometric measurements were conducted in 24 temporary plots (250 × 20 m) established under contrasting logging practices, including artisanal and industrial logging, applied either intermittently or continuously. All woody individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH)≥ 5 cm were recorded and diversity and structural parameters were compared among logging regimes. A total of 8.089 trees belonging to 289 species, 199 genera and 58 families were inventoried. Forests subjected to intermittent artisanal logging exhibited higher species richness, diversity indices, tree density and basal area compared to forests exposed to continuous or industrial logging. Diameter-class distributions were dominated by small-sized individuals, indicating active natural regeneration across all sites. In contrast, forests affected by permanent industrial logging showed reduced canopy cover and a higher dominance of pioneer and heliophilous species. Overall, logging regime strongly influences woody vegetation diversity and forest structure. Intermittent artisanal logging appears to enhance forest resilience and represents a viable option for sustainable community forest management in the buffer zones surrounding protected areas in the Congo Basin.
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Nanga Charnelle Prudence*, Angoni Hyacinthe, Menyene Etoundi Laurent Florent, Ifo Averti Suspense, Nkemnkeng Francoline Jong, Mbolo Marie Marguerite, 2026. Effects of logging regimes on woody species diversity and stand structure in community forests adjacent to the Dja biosphere reserve, Cameroon. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 28(2), 76-84.
Copyright © 2026 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.