Fragmentation of Forest Landscapes in Central Africa: Causes, Consequences and Management

摘要: Forest fragmentation has a paramount impact on landscape pattern and therefore been key focus of ecology. Trends causes deforestation are analysed for the Democratic Republic Congo, Rwanda Burundi, put in regional, continental global perspective. In order to investigate role shifting cultivation as driver fragmentation, dynamics forest between 1970 2005 study area Bas-Congo province Congo were analysed. Using transition matrix identification spatial land transformation processes involved, historical data compared with current situation based upon field visits remote sensing imagery. As consequence non sustainable agriculture, is observed, leading an expansion savannah, fallow lands fields which replace secondary vegetation limit succession towards primary forest. Since ecosystems known be habitat indicator species only observed one specific phytogeographic territory, potential preservation these investigated. A dataset 310 Acanthaceae containing 6362 herbarium samples Burundi presence theories Robyns (1948), White (1979,1983) Ndjele (1988). Study distribution analyses habitats reveal importance protect species. Conservation should given priority avoid loss genetic resources future generations. Implications management forested landscapes discussed, regarding local populations, application ecological principles, conservation virgin forests, plantations, analysis.