Ivorian forest rehabilitation policy was long time focused on exotic species plantations. Hence, few studies have concerned biodiversity assessment through naturally restauration. This study aimed to assess plant species diversity in habitats reserved for natural regeneration on a hydroelectric dam in the south-western of Côte d’Ivoire. Botanical inventories were carried out in six habitat types where none human activity has been authorized in the last eight years: lowlands, old cocoa and rubber farms, secondary forests, gallery forests and young fallow. Adult, saplings and seedling trees were counted and their diameters at breast height were measured in plot with 625 m2 based on in each habitat type. Species diversity, structural parameters, and conservation value were compared between these habitats. 364 plants species were surveyed in all the habitats. Among them, 48 are rare, endemic, and/or threatened. The diversity of these species decreased from secondary forests to lowlands. The gallery forests, old plantations and young fallows had the same diversity level. Stem density decreased from secondary forests (277.7 stems/ha) to young fallows (150 stems/ha). Above-ground biomass was higher in the gallery forest. The current reconstitution trends of the plant diversity in these protected habitats shown that this method must be promoted for forest restauration.

Women are key players in the agricultural sector in most developing countries. However, their roles in different agricultural production systems are often poorly known. The present study, conducted in the Centre of Côte d'Ivoire, aimed to highlight the main activities carried out by women in the management of cocoa-based agroforestry systems. To achieve this aim, interviews were conducted of 268 women involved in the management of cocoa agroforestry systems in six localities. Among them, more than 69 % are producers’ wives. The interviews helped identifying the activities performed by these women in these systems. The results show that women are mainly involved in the maintenance of the plantation (91.4 %) during the first year. They are more active in the creation of nurseries (28 %), in the plantation (37.7 %), in the harvest of cocoa pods (48.9 %), and in the maintenance of the beans (36.4 %). Despite this, it is clear that the majority of activities related to cocoa farming is the responsibility of men. More work with stakeholders (men and women) in all the producing areas will help to better understand the organization of work in cocoa agroforests to provide more information on women’s place in cocoa farming and their influence on the choice of species associated with cocoa trees.

Chimpanzees communities depend highly on plant resources availability and the stability of their habitats. To characterize the territories of chimpanzees living in Taï National Park, this study aimed to analyze species diversity and structural parameters of these habitats. Rectangular transect of 93 ha were established in three chimpanzee territories. On each transect, trees with dbh ≥ 10 cm were identified, measured, and counted. Two hundred sixty four (264) plant species belonging to 180 genera and 52 botanical families were recorded in the three territories. The most important families are Ebenaceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae. The dominant plant species are Diospyros mannii, Calpocalyx brevibracteatus, and Coula edulis. The chimpanzees feed on the leaves and fruits of these three species. The studied territories present a density (486.5 individuals/ha) and a basal area (30.88 m2/ha) similar to those of most of tropical forests. Vegetation structure reveals that those habitats are stable with high regeneration capacity. By contributing to a best knowledge of chimpanzees’ habitats, this study establishes a scientific base for their communities monitoring in the Taï National Park.

Tropical forests contain large amounts of carbon. Facing the intensive deforestation and degradation of remaining forests, policies developed reforestation programs often including invasive alien species. We analyzed the diversity of plant species in the forest of Angu

After an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of operating the Agbaou gold mine work, the company ENDEAVOUR MINING agreed to create a refuge area for biodiversity, its gold site. The present study was conducted to assess the plant diversity of this site, and its value for the conservation of flora. Floristic inventories were made in plots of 200 m2 where the presence / absence of all plant species were noted. Circumferences of tree species with dbh ? 5 cm were measured. The particular status species have been identified. Diversity indices were calculated as well as the importance values for tree species. The inventory has identified 358 species of which 31 are among those classified as rare, threatened or having different levels of endemism. These are species such as Cola lorougnonis and Drypetes singroboensis considered by national botanists as missing ivorian flora. The most important tree species are Celtis zenkeri, Pterygota macrocarpa, Mansonia altissima, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Ceiba pentandra and Nesogordonia papaverifera. All these timber species are very popular in the area because overexploitation. Shannon index varies from 1.3 to 3.57 showing a variation in level of plots degradation. The example of the Forest reserve D