The toxic impact of heavy metals contamination on soil have been emphasized in the past year, however, the risk of soil contamination in forest areas cannot be neglected. The purpose of this study is to investigate the concentration and distribution of seven major elements (Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca and Fe) and the potential ecological risks of three metals (Mn, Cu, and Zn) induced by human activities after the conversion from natural forest (NF) to plantation forest (PF). The result showed that the average metal concentration followed the order: Fe>K>Al>Na>Ca>Mg>P>Mn>Cu>Zn. Mn and Cu were strongly influenced by soil disturbance. All sampling sites were considered as slight pollution (1≤PI<4) and as low potential ecological risk index for individual metals (<40), and the environment (RI<65). Contamination with Mn, Cu and Zn was uncontaminated to moderately contaminated (0

The african elephant (Loxodonta africana), considered one of the world’s largest terrestrial mammals, represents a symbol of size, power, strength and is considered an “ecosystem engineer”. Unfortunately, this species faces several threats, the main one being poaching for its ivories. This illegal activity leads to a drastic decrease in the elephant population in general and in the Boumba-Bek National Park in particular. In order to ensure the conservation of elephants, it is paramount identified, characterized and georeferenced if all pressures and threats exerted on it. Conducted according to the method of recces trips and guided, the results of this study allowed to geolocate in the study area 03 carcasses of elephants, 19 camps of poachers, 26 tracks, 12 lines of traps. A kilometric index of abundance of 1.75 ± 0.29 indices per kilometer. The present study suggests that there is a strong anthropogenic pressure on elephant populations, the main activity carried out is poaching and it is carried out for its ivories.

The Dja Faunal Reserve has a significant role in environment/wildlife conservation because of the biodiversity it contains. However, competition between humans and animals for resources leads to human-wildlife conflicts. The overall objective of this study was to contribute to the improvement of human-wildlife conflicts management in the southwestern periphery of the Dja Faunal Reserve. A total of 95 peoples were interviewed in 8 villages using stratified random sampling. The aim was to collect information on the species responsible for the damage, the crops devastated, conflict causes, and impacts of human-wildlife conflicts. This study shows that the loss and fragmentation of wildlife habitats (57%), changes in feeding behaviour due to the proximity of plantations (39%) and the increase in the size of riparian populations (4%) are the main causes of human-wildlife conflicts. Majority of the conflicts were due to wildlife attacks on crops (91%) and often happened at night (70%). Rodents were the main animal species responsible for the damage including hedgehogs (20%), porcupines (18%) and palm rats (11%). The economic losses due to human-wildlife conflicts were estimated at 20 339 335 to 28 597 740 Franc CFA per year. Several suggestions were made, including raising public awareness of the ban on occupying reserved and classified areas, and revising law No. 94/01 to take into account the management of human-wildlife conflicts.