  Ecology of Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae), a Timber Species Considered as Endangered, in Southeastern CameroonBourland, Nils  ; ; Lejeune, Philippe et alin Biotropica (2012), 44(6), 840-847 Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a tall tree of high commercial value of the moist semi-deciduous African forests. As a result of logging which started decades ago, it is considered as threatened and ... [more ▼] Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a tall tree of high commercial value of the moist semi-deciduous African forests. As a result of logging which started decades ago, it is considered as threatened and included on both IUCN Red List and CITES Appendix II even though essential biological parameters controlling its population dynamics remain unknown. This study aims at improving the knowledge of the species ecological parameters and at assessing the impact of selective logging on its populations in an 118,052 ha forest in Cameroon. After inventorying the species in 1,432 ha, mortality and growth were assessed over continuous 5- and 2-year periods in unlogged and logged areas, respectively. Phenology was monitored in the unlogged forest during 5 years. The population structure followed a bell-shaped curve. Mean annual diameter increments in both environments did not differ significantly between unlogged and logged areas. P. elata is a deciduous species that flowers at the end of the main dry season. The minimum reproduction and effective flowering diameters were, respectively, 32 and 37 cm. Fruit maturation took place during 7 months. With a minimum logging diameter of 90 cm, the recovery rate computed over a 30-year period was greater than 100%. Selective logging harvested only 12.1% of the total number of seed trees and had little influence on the species biological parameters. Securing sufficient regeneration as a post-logging action is probably the most important consideration for achieving long-term sustainability. Implications for the conservation status of the species are discussed at the regional level. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 124 (68 ULg) Ecology and management of Pericopsis elata (Harms) Meeuwen (Fabaceae) populations: a reviewBourland, Nils ; ; et alin Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2012), 16(4), 486-498 Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a valuable timber species occurring in moist semi-deciduous African forests. While it is at present substantially reduced, the tree’s natural distribution previously covered ... [more ▼] Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) is a valuable timber species occurring in moist semi-deciduous African forests. While it is at present substantially reduced, the tree’s natural distribution previously covered several distinct areas from Côte d’Ivoire to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This species has been logged since the second half of the 20th century. Because it suffers from a lack of regeneration, P. elata is now included in CITES Appendix II and is recorded as “Endangered A1cd” on the IUCN Red List. As with other long-lived light-demanding species, the survival of P. elata may have been favored by important disturbances that occurred in the Congo Basin during the last millennia. While both international trade and industrial uses of the wood of P. elata are well documented, information about its ecology are very sparse or contradictory, and even absent in some cases (e.g., regarding its effective flowering diameter). Furthermore, data describing the management of P. elata are scarce, including potential solutions to compensate for the deficit of natural regeneration. Along the same lines, genetic studies still remain at an early stage and only vague hypotheses have been offered to explain the origins of the tree’s populations. We emphasize the need for new research on those topics. Further studies would be useful in deciding whether P. elata populations can continue to be logged without the species being threatened with extinction. Finally, such research needs to target effective and inexpensive management procedures that could secure the future of the species in a logging context. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 79 (31 ULg)Pericopsis elata (Harms) van Meeuwen in southeastern Cameroon : ecological and pedological approaches to improve the management of an endangered commercial timber speciesBourland, Nils ; ; Colinet, Gilles et alPoster (2010, August) Detailed reference viewed: 41 (18 ULg) Contribution à l'amélioration des connaissances écologiques d'une espèce d'arbre exploitée en milieu tropical : cas de l'assamela (Pericopsis elata (Harms) Meeuwen) au sud-est du CamerounBourland, Nils ; ; et alPoster (2010, March) Detailed reference viewed: 23 (10 ULg)Pericopsis elata (Harms) van Meeuwen in southeastern Cameroon : ecological and pedological approaches to improve the management of an endangered commercial timber speciesBourland, Nils ; ; Colinet, Gilles et alin International Forestry Review (2010), 12(5), 111 Detailed reference viewed: 21 (11 ULg)La gestion des populations de Pericopsis elata (Harms) van Meeuwen au sud-est du Cameroun : approches écologique et pédologique pour pérenniser une espèce exploitéeBourland, Nils ; ; Colinet, Gilles et alPoster (2009) Detailed reference viewed: 55 (16 ULg)Etude de l'écologie de Pericopsis elata (Harms) van Meeuwen - assamela dans les forêts du sud-est du Cameroun; Bourland, Nils ; Doucet, Jean-Louis Poster (2009) Detailed reference viewed: 38 (8 ULg) |
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