Characterisation of the plant’s landscape of the protected area complex in North Cameroon

Abstract

Context and background
The natural ecosystems of the complex of protected areas in the North Cameroon region are being severely degraded as a result of the intensification of human activities, leading to the fragmentation of natural habitats, the disruption of the natural modes of dispersion and migration of wildlife species, the disappearance of certain species and biodiversity loss.
Goal and Objectives:
The aim of this work is to characterise the plant landscape of the complex studied.
Methodology:
The main methods used were the collection of floristic data using the Braun-Blanquet sigmatiste method and remote sensing work using optical (Sentinel 2 MSI) and radar (Sentinel 1 SAR) image fusion. The floristic inventories were based on 264 spot surveys of 20m x 20m, i.e. 400 m2, spread over the entire area.
Results:
A total of 10,937 individuals were recorded, including 123 woody species belonging to 41 families. The average species richness was 41 species per plot. The most dominant species belonged to the Combretaceae’s family with a total of 3164 individuals in 11 species; Cesalpiniaceae’s family with a total of 2605 individuals in 07 species; Anonaceae with 861 individuals in 03 species; Fabiaceae with 766 individuals in 10 species; Rubiaceae with 480 individuals in 05 species; Meliaceae with 423 individuals in 02 species; Euphorbiaceae with 357 individuals in 06 species; Mimosaceae with 314 individuals in 11 species; and Hymenocardiaceae with 200 individuals in 01 species. These ligneous species are divided into plant groups individualised on 13 facies, with a high species richness evaluated according to Simpson's index of 0.78. Wooded savannah is the most abundant plant formation in terms of woody species, representing 34% of the total, followed by wooded savannah with 23%.