Caractérisation partielle de la régénération naturelle d’Albizia adianthifolia sur le plateau Batéké (République Démocratique du Congo)

Abstract

In outskirts of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, increasing anthropic pressure on the periurbans forest ecosystems threat the perenniality of the goods and services that they are able to furnish. Shifting agriculture, bush fires and production of wood-energy are the leading causes. In nine villages of the Batéké Plateau, the Makala project (European project of sustainable management of the wood-energy resource project, 2009-2013) accompanied more than 180 farmers in the implementation of assisted natural regeneration. In order to restore the forest fallow, it appeared convenient to study the composition of recruitment, in particular for Albizia adianthifolia, a local leguminous tree with rapid growth, used for the restoration of the soil fertility and the production of wood-energy. An inventory of natural regeneration (seedlings, stump sprouts) were carried out initially. It was supplemented by a preliminary test of rootsuckering induction. The observations show that the saplings result from basal sprouts and rootsuckers; the seedlings are almost non-existent. The major impact of agricultural practises and of bush fires is underlined. These factors must most probably support the regeneration of this species at the expense of others not having the same capacities of vegetative propagation in condition of post-farming fallows.

Keywords

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Albizia adianthifolia
• periurban forest
• forest degradation
• natural assisted regeneration
• rootsuckering