The potential of secondary forests to restore biodiversity of the lost forests in semi-deciduous West Africa

BACKGROUND:

The human population in West Africa has increased considerably over the past four decades, leading to a high demand for food. This has led to the conversion of vast forest lands to agricultural lands in the region. Degraded forest landscapes have the capacity to regain fertility and naturally regenerate, resulting in the widespread spread of secondary forests in West Africa. Despite the significant presence of secondary forests in the region, there is rare knowledge about forest successional stages and general dynamics.

GOALS AND METHODS:

The paper seeks to identify the recovery trajectories of different facets of biodiversity, the effects of various factors on forest recovery rates, and the consequences of managing secondary forests on ecosystems in West Africa. The study uses species composition and diversity indices to describe forest successional stages in secondary forests. The authors use a chronosequence of 1 to 40 years and 7 controls to measure trees within a single forest in the semi-deciduous belt of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.

CONCLUSION AND TAKEAWAYS:

Allowing forests to evolve naturally toward old growth is simple and cheap. It is mostly compared to assisted natural regeneration and traditional tree planting. However, relying entirely on natural succession is insufficient, given West Africa's deforestation level. The authors suggest that involving agroforestry techniques in reforestation programs will help address the growing population's demand for food and conserve secondary forests in the region.