Vegetation restoration after abandonment of human activities in soubre hydroelectric dam biodiversity Refugee zone (South-West Cote D'Ivoire)

Abstract

The impacts of human activities have serious consequences for vegetation cover and the survival of plant species. This is the case of the Soubré Biodiversity Refuge Area, located in the southwest of Côte d'Ivoire. The general objective of this study is to assess the floristic diversity and the level of plant species recovery of the Soubré dam biodiversity refuge area since the dam was impounded. The methodology consisted of the installation of 29 plots of 20 x 20 m (400 m2) and a systematic inventory of the flora within them. At the end of these inventories, it emerged that the flora of the refuge zone is rich in 143 species divided into 118 genera and 53 families. The area is dominated by small diameter stems. The high pioneer index in the former rubber tree cultivation reflects the very low reconstitution in this habitat.