Conservation of Voluntary Nature Reserves: Physical Characterization of Flora of the Biodiversity Zones of the Zuénoula Sugar Complex (Central West, Côte d'Ivoire)

Voui Bi Bianuvrin Noël Boué *

Laboratoire d’Amélioration de la Production Agricole, Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) en Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.

Kouassi Kouadio Claude

Laboratoire d’Amélioration de la Production Agricole, Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) en Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.

Koulibaly Annick

Laboratoire d’Amélioration de la Production Agricole, Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) en Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.

Kouadio Ange Sonia Colombe Fodio

Laboratoire d’Amélioration de la Production Agricole, Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) en Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.

Kpan Kedin Quentin

Service Diversification de l’unité Agricole du Complexe Sucrier, BP 291 Zuénoula, Côte d’Ivoire.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Background: Conservation of voluntary nature reserves: physical characterization of flora of the biodiversity zones of the Zuénoula sugar complex (Central West, Côte d'Ivoire.

Objective: To protect and conserve biodiversity zones of the Zuénoula sugar complex for abundant and sustainable sugar production in Côte d'Ivoire.

Methods: A study of the perimeter boundaries and floristic structure of conservation areas was conducted in vegetation formations consisting of gallery forests, riparian forests and forest islands. The perimeter boundaries were determined by mapping the ecological sites with a GPS. The floristic list was established from surface and itinerant survey methods.

Results: The three ecological sites were delimited and mapped on an area of 139.55 ha. The flora, mostly from the Guinean-Congolese region, was rich in 106 species and dominated by Mesophanerophytes. It belonged mainly to the Caesalpiniaceae, Moraceae and Sterculiaceae families. The gallery forests FG3 and FG5 were the most stable. In addition, all environments were diverse and indicated a uniform distribution of species. Six vulnerable species including Afzeliaafricana and Mallotusoppositus, two Red List species including Miliciaexcelsa and Triplochitonscleroxylon and 41 species of Least Concern including Albiziaadianthifolia and Lanneanigritana were identified.

Conclusion: The ecological reserves of Zuénoula are rich and diversified in plant species. Their implementation allows for the reduction of industrial pollution.

Keywords: Côte d'Ivoire, sugar complex, biodiversity conservation, gallery forests, forest island, riparian forest


How to Cite

Boué, Voui Bi Bianuvrin Noël, Kouassi Kouadio Claude, Koulibaly Annick, Kouadio Ange Sonia Colombe Fodio, and Kpan Kedin Quentin. 2022. “Conservation of Voluntary Nature Reserves: Physical Characterization of Flora of the Biodiversity Zones of the Zuénoula Sugar Complex (Central West, Côte d’Ivoire)”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 34 (22):1097-1109. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2022/v34i2231473.