The Effects of Land Cultivation on the Spatial Distribution of the Floristic and Structural Characteristics of Woody Plant Formations in the Central West Region

The diversity and structure of woody plant species will decline as the areas containing them lose the links or connections between them. This will have an impact on the structural composition and habitat diversity of woody species and does not bode well for their conservation. The objective of this research is to show the habitat types, habitat prospectivity, structural composition and species diversity of woody vegetation cover in the Centre West region (Burkina Faso). To achieve this objective, the <i>Land Use Land Cover </i>model and the Habitat assessment algorithm were used to generate habitat maps of woody species, and a floristic inventory was carried out to assess the structural characteristics and diversity of woody flora by land-use class. Importance value indices (IVI) and regeneration value indices (RVI) were calculated for each species. The inventory data shows that the region is made up of 69 species belonging to 55 genera in 28 botanical families. According to the IVI, the most important species are <i>Vitellaria paradoxa</i> (IVI=26.12), <i>Lannea microcarpa</i> (IVI=17.41), <i>Detarium microcarpum</i> (IVI=14.12) and <i>Piliostigma thonningii</i> (IVI=12.47). Analysis of the Shannon and Pielou indexes reveals that the agroforestry and field formations present species diversity with identical abundance, dominated by <i>Azaderata indica</i>, <i>Ecaluptus</i>, <i>Lannea microcarpa</i>, <i>Parkia biglobosa</i>, <i>Vittelaria paradoxa</i> and <i>Terminalia avicinoides</i>. These species are sometimes cut for charcoal production and to open up sown areas, while others are debarked and pruned for socio-economic purposes. The results of the habitat quality modelling show that the region is made up of primary and secondary habitat, and potential primary and secondary corridors. In 2020, primary habitat represented 38.47% of the study area. A prospective analysis of the habitat in 2050 shows a loss of connection between the primary habitats as a result of the increasing cultivation of sown areas. The prediction of biodiversity habitats in terms of the woody biological diversity found there highlights the need to preserve these habitats in the face of threats. Strategies and actions should be geared towards combating the destruction of interconnections between primary habitats and reclaiming secondary habitats and conservation corridors threatened with extinction.