Regional research projects

Central Africa

Traditional Usages, Valorization and Conservation of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Makokou Biosphere Reserve, Gabon

Lead scientist: Olga Diane Yongo

The Ipassa-Makokou Biosphere Reserve is located in the northeast of Gabon, 12 km from Makokou city. There are no inhabitants living in the reserve, although three main ethnic groups live at the reserve’s periphery, the Fang, Kota, and Kwele. Those communities practice agriculture, hunting, fishing and gathering of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the reserve’s transition and buffer zones. This project aims to gather data on traditional use, markets and availability of NTFPs in forests to ensure their sustainable use and ensure added value. Expected outputs are:

• A database of available NTFPs with details of traditional use and biological characteristics
• Data on markets and trading of available NTFPs
• Analysis of abundance and endangerment of NTFPs
• Simple management plans for key NTFPs developed and implemented.

Potential impacts of climate change on the composition and dynamics of the tropical moist forests of Congo Basin: an example from Okoumé forests, Gabon

Lead scientist: Louis Bernard Cheteu

The Congo Basin, the second largest remaining block of tropical moist forests in the world, shelters exceptional vegetation diversity (dense, closed forests, open forests, savannas) and forest types (evergreen, semi-deciduous and swamp forests). This diversity is marked by a plenitude of endemic tree species (e.g. Aucoumea klaineana (Okoumé), Gilbertiodendron devewrei, Baillonella toxisperma)that are significant and dominant trees in vegetation cover. These species also contribute valuable goods and services to governments and local people. These forests face increasing anthropogenic pressure, timber logging and land conversion, and they are potentially threatened by climate change (i.e. intensification of the dry season, decline of annual precipitation and an increase of temperature). Unfortunately the forest ecology of the Congo Basin, in particular thier endemic tree species, remain poorly known, which limits our ability to predict potential impacts of climate change on their composition and dynamics.

Plant distribution depends on many factors including the climate and physical environment, features of recipient ecosystems, life history traits and availability and abundance of propagules. The understanding of plant species vulnerability to climate change in these moist forests is crucial if we are to provide analysis and decision-making criteria to mitigate the effects of global climate change on their function and diversity.

This project has four objectives:

• To understand the spatial limit of the distribution of Aucoumea klaineana (Okoumé) given anthropogenic disturbance and climatic factors
• To improve understanding of the ecology and potential distribution of this species, which is currently decreasing
• To understand the history of geographical distribution at different time scales for this endemic tree species to investigate links to previous conditions
• To assess the impact of disturbances (logging, agriculture) on the regeneration potential of this species.

Study of dynamic interactions of fauna, flora and humans in swampy clearings (bai) in the Makokou area and their ecotouristic value

Lead scientist: Mutambue Shango

Like other bai, swampy clearings, of the Congo Basin, the bai, in the forests of the Makokou region, are unique ecosystems that contain a rich diversity of fauna and flora. In particular bai are important for the forest elephant, as large numbers congregate there to feed and for social interaction. These sites contain unique biodiversity that are still scientifically almost unknown. Some particular sites (Langoue Bai, Momba Bai, etc.) are used for ecotourism and scientific research.

An increase in human use of these ecosystems could lead to a modification of natural balances threatening there richness and sustainability of these sensitive habitats. Efforts must be made to ensure the biological integrity of these sites, and the protection of forest elephants that are poached and hunted. Well developed and sustainably managed, these saltworks can potentially offer a host of goods and services. They could also provide for many economic, social and cultural needs of the rural population.

These ecosystems would also benefit from initiatives that promote ecotourism in the saltworks.

This project is prioritised in the region’s political agenda to conserve important biological sites, combined with the sustainable use of forest products, for the reinforcement of rural population capacities for better management of this natural resource. The human element in this project is included, and constitutes a new vision of research guaranteed to be of high value.

The implementation of the project will be done by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Central Africa working with common research protocols.

The expected results will contribute to the characterisation of the saltworks, the realisation of guidance for developing ecotouristic circuits and to the reinforcement of capacities in the local population.

Pacific

Regional vegetation classification system for Western Pacific

Lead scientist: Robert Johns

This project aims to develop a regional classification system using physiognomic and structural characteristics for the tropical rainforest of the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea) and selected sites in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This classification will inform long-term sustainable management of tropical rain forest in this region. Data will be recorded using a specifically designed proforma for rainforest studies as outlined by Webb, Tracey and Williams (1976). Additional advantages will accrue from the use of the same sites for parallel studies of floristic diversity in the forests, and will also provide baseline data for monitoring climatic changes from point samples across the tropical rainforest. The project will involve forest research institutions within the partner countries.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• To develop staff capacity within collaborating organisations on the use and application of the proforma method
• To collect date using the structural/physiognomic proforma
• To field test the classification system