Characterization and Risk Assessment of the Collapse of the Woody Stand of Ecosystems of the Fathala Forest (Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve-Senegal)

The Fathala Forest within Senegal's Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve is critically endangered, with its woody plant formations deteriorating at alarming rates due to anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Research reveals a collapse rate of -6 individuals per hectare annually in gallery forests and -4 in clear forests, along with a cover loss of -3.75% and -2.9%, respectively. The study identified 56 woody species across 22 families, with higher density in unfenced areas (369 ind/ha in clear forest vs. 160 ind/ha in fenced areas). Using IUCN red list criteria and dendrometric methods, the research highlights a shift from Sudanese forest to wooded savannah, threatening species like the Red colobus. These findings underscore urgent conservation needs for this UNESCO-listed ecosystem.

Kaly, E., Sarr, O., Diatta, S., Diouf, A. A., Diouck, D., & Ngom, D. (2021). Characterization and Risk Assessment of the Collapse of the Woody Stand of Ecosystems of the Fathala Forest (Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve-Senegal). American Journal of Plant Sciences, 12(07), 975–993. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2021.127066