Reforestation based Tectona grandis L.f. and conservation of floristic diversity in the department of Boundiali, north of Côte d'Ivoire

The north of Côte d'Ivoire, which is mainly dominated by savanna, has been the subject of few floristic studies. The aim of this study is to characterize the flora associated with teak plantations in the department of Boundiali. Data collection based on floristic inventories combined surface survey methods with the so-called itinerant method. The analyses were carried out on 10,000 m² plots. They included teak plantations less than 15 years old on the one hand and teak plantations more than 15 years old on the other. The study thus made it possible to show greater floristic diversity in teak plantations less than 15 years old. The study also revealed that the number of species in teak plantations decreases as the age of the plantation increases. Furthermore, by harboring five vulnerable species and large-diameter species, teak plantations contribute to the conservation of wood resources in northern Côte d'Ivoire. The finding is that, apart from teak, various plant species are growing in the plantations. The difficulty observed is maintaining the different species in teak plantations over the years. To achieve this, awareness campaigns targeting teak plantation owners appear to be a first step toward reversing the trend.