WOODY FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND COMMERCIAL TIMBER SPECIES POTENTIAL IN FOREST PATCHES OF THE BESSO CLASSIFIED FOREST, SOUTHEASTERN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

The Besso Classified Forest, located in the south-east of Côte d’Ivoire, has faced the problem of illegal infiltration for several decades. Agriculture practiced within this forest has significantly reduced its area and its role as a production forest. However, some areas of this forest have been identified as having low levels of human intrusion. The overall objective of this study is to assess the potential of timber resources in areas untouched by agriculture. To achieve this, a systematic inventory was conducted along a forest path in three forest patches located in the center of the forest. The different paths were subdivided into 200 m² plots, arranged contiguously within each patch. Across the three patches, 52 plots, covering an area of 1.04 hectares, were inventoried. Dendrometric parameters specifically trees density, total height, and diameter were measured. A total of 526 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were recorded. They belong to 95 species, 75 genera, and 33 families. Furthermore, 305 trees were identified as commercial species. Almost all of these species fall into the export and sawmill grades. Also, the majority of the trees are short in height. The Sorensen coefficient calculated between the forest patches indicates a similar plant community. Comparative analysis of the different dendrometric parameters measured reveals no significant differences between the commercial species. However, Celtis mildbraedii, Nesogordonia papaverifera, and Ricinodendron heudelotii are the most commercially traded species, with values that are higher and statistically different from the other species. These results demonstrate the significant potential of these forest patches for commercial species. Measures must be taken for the sustainable management of these forest patches to ensure long-term exploitation.