Conserving woody species in cocoa agroforestry systems in the peri-urban area of Daloa, Center-West Côte d'Ivoire: Diversity, status and perspectives

Often overlooked, agroforestry systems play a central role in the conservation of woody biodiversity, particularly in peri-urban areas subject to high anthropogenic pressures. This study aimed to assess the diversity and conservation status of woody species in cocoa plantations in the peri-urban area of Daloa. The floristic inventory was carried out on 2,400 m² plots (60 m × 40 m) distributed across four rural localities: Briboua, Toroguhé, Zakoua and Zépréguhé. A total of 82 woody species, belonging to 60 genera and 27 families, were recorded. The most represented families were Fabaceae (16 species), Malvaceae (9 species), Moraceae (7 species), and Euphorbiaceae (6 species). The Shannon index ranged from 2.16 to 3.93, reflecting moderate to high species diversity. Pielou's equitability (0.59 to 0.91) indicated a relatively homogeneous distribution of species across sites. Analysis of the horizontal structure of the stands revealed an “inverted J” distribution, showing the predominance of young individuals (≤ 10 cm in diameter), while large-diameter trees (> 50 cm) were poorly represented. The relative importance value index showed that only a few species, including Terminalia ivorensis, Petersianthus africanus and Mangifera indica, constitute the main framework of the stands. The results confirm that cocoa agroforestry systems in peri-urban areas contribute significantly to the conservation of woody biodiversity, with dynamics strongly influenced by local agricultural practices. For sustainable management, it is necessary to integrate farmers' knowledge into conservation strategies, promote cocoa agroforestry, and enhance the value of woody species with high ecological utility.