Sociodemographic Determinants of Plant Resource Use Patterns and Implications for Floristic Diversity Conservation at Mount Nimba, Guinea

Aims: This study examined the sociodemographic determinants of plant resource use patterns among Mount Nimba Massif communities and identified conservation considerations for the local floristic diversity. Study Design: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and plant resource use patterns. A floristic inventory was conducted across 2.5 ha. Place and Duration of Study: Lola, Guinea, between March 2026 and May 2026. Methodology: The sociodemographic predictors of use patterns were assessed using two multivariate logistic regression models. β diversity was evaluated. PCoA and NMDS ordinations, together with PERMANOVA, were used to test the statistical significance of floristic groupings. α diversity indices and a rank-abundance curve described local community structure. Results: The surveyed population was predominantly male (64.3%), largely indigenous (82.5%), and had a mean age of 44.8 +/- 14.0 years; 39.7% had received no formal schooling. Daily use of plant resources was reported by 70.6% of respondents, and 73.8% reported exclusively domestic use. Neither logistic model reached statistical significance (daily use: p=0.870, R²=0.016 ; commercial destination: p=0.715, R²=0.031). No individual covariate reached the 5% significance threshold, although the strongest trends were observed for gender (women: OR=1.62; p=0.325) and allochthonous origin in relation to commercial use (OR = 3.19, p=0.084). The floristic inventory recorded 432 individuals across 25 species, with Aframomum giganteum being the most abundant species (16.7%). The mean Bray-Curtis dissimilarity was high (0.629 +/- 0.120). Sørensen beta diversity (0.426) was dominated by species turnover (78.7%, βsim=0.335), with nestedness accounting for only 21.3%. PERMANOVA was significant (p=0.025, R²=0.231), although PCoA and NMDS ordinations showed no clear separation between plot groups. Conclusion: The sociodemographic profile did not significantly predict daily use frequency or commercial orientation of plant resources, suggesting widespread dependence on forest resources. Beta diversity was driven by species replacement rather than nestedness. A network-based conservation strategy built on complementary sites is suggested for the peripheral zone of Mount Nimba.