Mapping of Land Cover and Prediction and Simulation on the Evolution of the Density of Afzelia Africana (Fabaceae) According to Anthropogenic Activities in the Bénoué National Park (North-Cameroon)

Abstract

Afzelia africana (Fabaceae) is an endangered ligneous species which is becoming rare in northern Cameroon due to overexploitation in unprotected natural environments. This leads to its overexploitation in the Benoue National Park by various types of actors. This work aims at predicting the evolution of its densities according to anthropic activities and simulating the evolution of its densities in the Benoue National Park (North-Cameroon). The modeling of the evolution of the densities according to the anthropogenic activities showed that pruning and late fires would been at the origin of the extinction of this species while the calculated annual regression rate was 2.33%, showing that it may disappear in the 2040s. This stresses the necessity to raise awareness on the protection and restoration of this important plant species.