Dendrometric characteristics as indicators of pressure of Afzelia africana Sm. dynamic changes in trees found in different climatic zones of Benin

Abstract

Afzelia africana is a forest species used by local inhabitants for various purposes, especially as forage to feed cattle, as medicinal plant and its wood is used to make furniture or for cooking. Its utilisation in its current form constitutes a threat to this species. However, the lack of data on this species is a hindrance towards drawing up an efficient program for its sustainable management. In order to fill in some gaps in the knowledge of A. africana tree populations, dendrometric characteristics of this species were studied within different climatic zones where it occurs in Benin. Data collected on each of them included height and diameter, and with regard to the levels of pressure, five categories were defined namely: null, weak, moderate, severe and very severe. As far as diameter is concerned every size was taken into consideration in all the climatic zones. However, average diameter and height of the A. africana individuals varied significantly according to climatic zones. Anthropogenic pressure increased while moving from the humid zone towards the drier zone. Moreover, there was a noticeable significant change in the level and quality of pressure between trees found in the different climatic zones in the sense that the lower the height of the trees, the more severe the level of pressure exerted. Such a relationship was not significant when one considers tree diameter in accordance with the climatic zones in the country.