COS 11-6 - Variation of functional regeneration traits of tree species in managed and unmanaged forests in the Sudanian domain

Abstract: Forest management remains the main management strategy to make forests economically profitable and socially useful, while conserving their biodiversity. The ability of forests to regenerate following disturbances also depends on variation in functional traits. This study questions the chances of successful regeneration of tree species in the Sudanian domain and specifically aims to study the variation in regeneration traits of the most economically used species in managed forests compared to unmanaged forests. We collected floristic data in five unmanaged forests, four formerly managed forests, seven recently managed forests and four managed community forests, as well as functional traits of the twenty most used species at the national level. Using mixed linear models, we modeled the probability of presence of regeneration of these twenty species in the inventory plots, depending on the interaction of the management method and different functional traits related to species growth and reproduction. Our results show a significant interaction between landscaping and the following traits: reproductive mode, wood density, leaf area and maximum height of the species. Given these results, forest management practices should be based more on a functional approach to better ensure the sustainability of forest resources and also be able to predict the evolutionary dynamics of managed forests, especially in a context of climate change.