New article available: “Survival and growth of high-value timber species planted in Central African rainforest logging gaps”

30.05.2025

Researchers from Gembloux-Agro Bio Tech, University of Liège, have carried out a study in south-east Cameroon with the aim to improve our knowledge on the enrichment of logging gaps. This study tested 15 high-value timber species planted in logging gaps and monitored over a period of 14 to 19 years. It presents fraké (Terminalia superba) as a species with high potential for planting in logging gaps. The scientific article is available here.

It is based on the observation that in Central Africa, logging has focused on very few species for decades, with six species accounting for more than 80 % of the total production. Even if such selective logging has a limited impact on forest cover and biodiversity, the timber volume of exploited species has depleted through harvest cycles. Several measures have been proposed to address this issue, including forest plantations. Logging gaps could offer suitable conditions for tree planting in production forests, but in Africa the long-term monitoring of reforested gaps was limited to less than 5 years because of its difficulties and associated cost.

The results of this study indicate that Fraké (Terminalia superba) is a species with strong potential for logging gaps enrichment, with an average diameter growth of 16 mm/year. Sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum), on the other hand, does not survive in the long term and is therefore not recommended. Moabi, tali and mambodé provided promising results, if regular maintenance can be regularly carried out. This is a real challenge in forest concessions where access roads are closed after logging to limit poaching.

This study contributes to a better understanding of gap enrichment in central African tropical forests, supporting the sustainable management of production forests.