[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO

Because of the various human activities mentioned above, the vegetation in large parts of
Southwest Cameroon has changed drastically. Forests in different stages of degradation are found
close to towns and villages, along access roads, and in logged forest. The floristic composition of
the secondary vegetation is very distinct and incorporates many species which can be characterized
as 'pioneer species' and which are found in disturbed vegetation throughout the Guineo-Congolian
domain, e.g. Musanga cecropioides, Myrianthus arboreus and Homalium species. Large recent
clearings are typically overgrown with the stout herb Chromolaena odorata. Moreover, depending
on the intensity of clearing, many relicts of the previous forests are found reflecting the
characteristics of each of the phytogeographic districts.
A more elaborate literature review on vegetation in the TCP research area is given in section 6.1.
2.8 WILDLIFE
The tropical moist forest area of Cameroon possesses high levels of endemic fauna and flora.
The Lower Guinea centre of endemism (Gartlan, 1989) stretches from SE Nigeria in the north
to Gabon in the south. A subdivision is made into the Cameroon refuge, centring around Mount
Cameroon, and the West Equatorial refuge south of the Sanaga river. The two refuges are
important with respect to the conservation of biodiversity.
Approximately 132 species of mammals are found in the humid forests ofCameroon of Cameroon (Vivien,
1991), among which endangered species like elephant (Loxodonta africana cyc/otis), cyclotis), western
lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan-troglodytes troglodytes), mandrill
(Mandrillus sphinx), African leopard (Panthera pardus), forest buffalo (Synceras caffer nanus)
and bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) (IUCN, 1988). No systematic census of the mammals of the
;;rCP area has taken place. Van Dijk (1997), in her study on non-timber forest products,
. interviewed villagers on the use and presence of of' 'bush bush meat'. Her survey reveals that, although
the elephant has become extinct, the TCP research area still harbours gorillas, chimpanzees and
mandrills. Bekhuis (1997) studied, within the framework of the Lu 1 project, the habitat
:requirements of some larger mammal species.
Some 849 species of birds are found in Cameroon (Louette, 1981). A total of390 bird species
are known to occur in the Korup National park and its surroundings in the South-West Province,
Cameroon. Although the avifauna of this area is still incompletely known, it is already among
the ornithologically most diverse lowland forest sites in Africa (Rodewald et et al., 1994). Some
48 of these species are considered globally threatened or near-threatened. The avifauna of the
TCP research area has neither been studied intensively nor systematically. The legacy of a few
individuals has resulted in the drafting of a preliminary species list of the TCP research area.
The total of identified species is at present 96. In Annex VI all recorded species are listed.
2.9 POPULATION
The human population of Southwest Cameroon is concentrated in a few urban centres like Edea,
Kribi and Ebolowa, and in numerous villages along the main access roads. Population density
in the rural forest areas averages 5 habitants per km 2 The human population of Southwest Cameroon is concentrated in a few urban centres like Edea,
Kribi and Ebolowa, and in numerous villages along the main access roads. Population density
in the rural forest areas averages 5 habitants per km (Foahom and Jonkers, 1992).
2 (Foahom and Jonkers, 1992).
The ethnic composition of the population of the TCP research area is diverse. Approximately
90% of the population are Bantus, belonging to the Bulu, Fang, Bassa and Ngumba tribes. They
live in villages along the roads. The Bantus practice shifting cultivation, but other activities such
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