Phytoecological valorization attributes of Mozogo-Gokoro National Park (Cameroon).

Abstract

Natural and anthropogenic pressures are major concerns about the stability of vegetation in protected areas of the Sudano-Sahelian regions. This study aims to describe the woody flora of Mozogo-Gokoro National Park, submitted to these geographical area constraints in the Far North of Cameroon. Global inventory of this flora is carried out, through three collection units representing strata in vegetation that are previously identified by photo-interpretation, with analyses focusing on compositional diversity parameters. Results show a very rich woody flora (110 woody plant species, for 46 genera and 30 families), having a quasi-typical Sudano-Sahelian physiognomy. Vegetation is mainly a shrubby dry forest, dominated by species such as Senegalia ataxacantha, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Tamarindus indica, Psorospermum senegalense, Clerodendrum capitatum, Celtis toka, and the botanical families of Fabaceae and Combretaceae. The diversity indices, the woody density, and the basal area are high (4.32 bits for the Shannon-Weaver index, 2694.16 stems/ha and 43.89m2/ha). Despite the dominance of Sahelian individuals, the importance of Sudanian and Guinean species (more than 22.68% of species) brings vegetation closer to those of much humid areas. In wooded savanna collection unit, several values of the evaluated parameters are lower in comparison with those obtained in the two others. However, these fluctuations related to the degradation of vegetation are insignificant, indicating a preserved resilience. The Mozogo-Gokoro National Park stands as a model of plant conservation in the Sudano-Sahelian zone in Cameroon, hence the major interest to be granted for its conservation and sustainable management.