Characterization and Conservation Status of Evergreen Rainforest Understory: Case of Campo Ma'an National Park (Cameroon)

The Campo Ma'an National Park is located in the evergreen rainforest area rich in biological diversity. This biological diversity remains poorly known, especially those of the understory. The objective of the present study is to characterize undersotory tree and to determine their IUCN conservation status. To know the floristic diversity of understory (5 cm ≤ dbh <10 cm) of this forest, a tree inventory using the plots method of 25 m x 25 m, in which 36 plots were placed out on 6 transects of 4 km each. The IUCN Red List was used to determine the status of inventoried species. The result showed a total richness of 256 species belonging to 148 genera and 50 families for the entire site has been identified. The Shannon diversity index is 4.90 and 4.02 for Old secondary forest (OSF) and Secondary forest (SFO), respectively. The floristic background belongs to the field of Guinean-Congolese endemism, with 6 endemic species in Cameroon. The conservation status analysis shows that 22 species are listed as endangered in the red list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This study provides a base for reflection on the integration of understory trees species in inventories and in the development of conservation strategies