A preliminary assessment of the vegetation of the Dzanga Sangha Protected Area Complex, Central African Republic

The study found that the forests in the study area respond very well to disturbance from timber exploitation. It also found that when mean species richness per hectare is considered, these forests are amongst the richest studied so far in the Congo Basin. Furthermore, variations in species richness, diversity and distribution exist across sites, and comparisons of the sample sites according to each of these parameters all produced the same trends. Generally all diversity indicators were found to increase with number of rotations undergone, and to reduce with increased time of recuperation. During this study a checklist of species found in the area was built up that is presented in the report annex together with a list of some vernacular names that was determined in association with the local Ba"Aka tribesmen. (Author abstract, modified)