L’importance des îlots forestiers de savane humide pour la conservation de la faune de forêt dense en Côte d’ivoire

Abstract

Three « forest islands » were studied during the dry season in the Comoé National Park, north-east Ivory Coast. Preliminary surveys of the trees, mammals, and birds, were carried out from 1976 to 1980. On the whole, about half of the species recorded were found to be rain forest species. Furthermore, marked differences in tree flora, and in mammal and bird communities, were found to occur between neighbouring « forest islands ». For instance, 8 % only of the tree species were shared by adjacent (6 to 9 km apart) « forest islands ». The possible origin of such obvious differences in community structure is discussed. It is still unclear whether these « forest islands » are « relics » of former large forest blocks, or represent « pioneer » stages of forest recolonization. In any case, such a forest-savanna mosaic might help to preserve a number of rain forest species within the more humid parts of the western african savanna belt. Up to now, their importance for the conservation of forest plant and animal taxa has generally been underrated.