Influence of Anthropogenic Factors on Reforestation Activities in the Ecosystems of the Teaching and Research Forest (FER) of the National School of Water and Forests (ENEF) Mbalmayo in Cameroon

Abstract

Aims: This study, carried out in the Teaching and Research Forest (FER) of the national school of water and forests (ENEF) Mbalmayo, is part of the maintenance and protection of its biodiversity. The general objective is to identify the anthropogenic threats to the ENEF's FER. Specifically, to take stock of the reforestation, and to propose a restoration strategy corresponding to the ecological and social context of the RFM’s reforestation. Study Design: Forestry Department of the Mbalmayo National Forestry School. More precisely, in the school's teaching and research forest, commonly known as the "forest school". Between May 2021 and March 2022. Methodology: To achieve this, four plots of 1 hectare each were set up according to the level of degradation caused by the type of human activity. The data collected included an inventory of degraded areas, identification of the threats caused by human activities to FER ecosystems through direct observations in the field, and botanical inventories in the degraded plots. Given that the information on past floristic potential (before the threat) is known, the current inventory data made it possible to assess the threats. Bush fires, the removal of bark by local residents and agricultural plantations are the main threats to the RMF. Results: The Krustal Wallis test was used to compare the different plots, where a P-value of 0.00 for the Moabi and Bamboo plots means that there is no significant difference between these two sites at the 5% threshold with regard to the threats they face. On the other hand, this test shows that there is a significant difference between the plots in the inaugurated zone (ZI) and the burnt zone (ZB) at the 5% threshold with regard to their significant anthropogenic impacts, with respective P-values of 47% and 88%. These values show, following the determination of importance value indices (IVI), that threats are more severe on polyspecific sites such as inaugurated and burnt sites, as these are more coveted by local populations. Conclusion: The anthropogenic activities detected in the course of this study were the debarking observed in the Moabi plots, the bush fires encountered in the ZB site and the field activities (agricultural plantations) encountered in the Bamboo site. However, 3,174 trees survived the anthropogenic threats, compared with 1,036 that barely survived. 181 trees miraculously regenerated naturally.