Banque de graines du sol et végétation du sous-bois des forêts du Sud-est du Cameroun

Considering the increasing anthropogenic pressures on its forests, Cameroon has zoned its territory into different land-use types. These areas are designated for specific uses and functions, considering various criteria such as extent, biological richness, and composition (flora and fauna), past and present human impacts, production objectives, etc. The main objective of this zoning is to reconcile human socio-economic needs with biodiversity conservation. To achieve this, it is important to understand the dynamics of these forest allocations with their complex functionalities, to adapt management policies. Indeed, in addition to anthropogenic activities, natural phenomena create disturbances of varying sizes within forests, thereby modifying their mesological and biotic parameters. Despite their importance for the resilience and restoration of these ecosystems, information on the mechanisms of natural regeneration and its main determinants remains fragmented. According to a presumed anthropogenic gradient ranging from protected areas to community forests, this thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the natural regeneration of Cameroonian tropical rainforests. It relies on the main land-use types in southeastern Cameroon as a model case. Based on a network of 33 one-hectare plots spread over an area of approximately 4 000 km², it describes the soil seed bank and the understory vegetation of a protected area (Dja Faunal Reserve), a logging concession with three different logging periods, and three community forests.