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Biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities in Central African rain forests
Figure 5.7 Ordinary kriging map showing the distribution of GHI scores and conservation hotspots within
the Campo-Ma’an rain forest. The following GHI values are defined for the various conservation
classes (Hawthorne, 1996): Very high conservation value for GHI > 200; High conservation
value (150 ≤ GHI < 200); Moderate conservation value (100 ≤ GHI < 150); Low conservation
value (50 ≤ GHI < 100) and very low conservation value (GHI < 50).
5.4. DISCUSSION
Species richness and endemism
The Campo-Ma’an area is characterised by a rich and diverse flora with more than
2297 species of vascular plants, ferns and fern allies (Annex 3). The site has about 114
endemic plant species, 29 of which are restricted to the area, 29 also occur in the
southwestern part of Cameroon (Kribi-Akom II-Bipindi and Lolodorf areas) and 56
others that also occur in other parts of Cameroon. Furthermore, 540 species recorded
are Lower Guinea endemics, 1123 species are Guineo-Congolian endemics and 105
species are Guinea endemics. Most diverse genera were understorey small trees,
shrubs and herbs. The number of endemic plant species is relatively high considering
the size of the area, and more than 75% of the current forest cover was characterised
either by very high, high or average GHI values (Figure 5.7). Furthermore, the
distribution patterns of strict and narrow endemic species showed a high concentation
of these species in the submontane forest between Ebianemeyong and Akom II, in
Dipikar Island, and in the forests around Massif des Mamelles, Lobe, Mont
d’Eléphant and Zingui. Surprisingly, the mixed evergreen and semi-deciduous forest
in the Ma’an area showed a relatively low concentration of these species (Figure 5.1).
One of the explanations for the high occurrence of endemics might stem partly from
the fact that the area falls within a series of postulated rain forest refugia in Central
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