Involvement of the Soil Seed Bank in the Natural Regeneration of Forest Ecosystems in the Northern Sector of the Léfini Reserve (Republic of Congo)

The study on the involvement of the soil seed bank in the natural regeneration of forests was carried out in the northern sector of the Léfini reserve. The aim was to assess the resilience of these woody formations. Data were collected in 8 isolated plots of 1 ha, in which woody trees of dbh ≥ 10 cm were inventoried and counted, and soil samples were taken at 5 points. At a rate of 40 samples per level, the horizons involved were: 0–5 and 5–10 cm. The floristic inventory reveals 2903 trees for 113 species, 38 families and 92 genera. The main taxa were Tetraberlinia bifoliolata, Petersianthus macrocarpus, Duvigneaudia inopinata, Pentaclethra eetveldeana and Diospyros dendo . Germination tests on soil samples revealed 1763 individuals belonging to 50 species in 32 families. The dominant species were Pollia condensata, Musanga cecropioides, Trema orientalis and Harungana madagascariensis . The specific composition of the soil seed bank reveals low diversity and heterogeneity associated with forest facies and soil horizons, as underpinned by biodiversity indices. Although the soil seed bank is dominated by native herbaceous plants and pioneer woody plants, mature forest species are almost exclusively confined to the first horizon. Renewal of the flora depends mainly on animals and, to a lesser extent, on anemochory. The standing flora is not very similar to that of the soil seed bank. The low degree of similarity between the floristic composition and the soil seed bank, which is dominated by pioneer taxa, suggests that the front may be characterised by disturbance. In order to ensure the long‐term survival of the forests that are essential to people’s well‐being, assisted natural regeneration is recommended, particularly for the most prized taxa.