Elephants and vegetation change in the Sahelo-Soudanian region of Cameroon

• Published in: Journal of arid environments Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 243 - 253
• Main Authors: Tedonkeng Pamo, E., Tchamba, M.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cameroon; dam; desertification; elephant; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Loxodonta africana; National Park; Sahelo-Soudanian region; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; vegetation change; Cameroon; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sahel; Africa; Sudan; dam; Cameroon; National Park; desertification; elephant; Sahelo-Soudanian region; vegetation change; Proboscidea; Loxodonta africana; Vegetation dynamics; Grazing; Browsing (damage); Ecological damage; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Arid region; Animal plant relation; Environment impact; Nature reserve; Habitat; Damage; Vegetation structure; Ungulata; Protected species
• ISSN: 0140-1963; 1095-922X
• DOI: 10.1006/jare.2000.0761

Elephant protection in Northern Cameroon has led to serious concern over their impact on vegetation. The basic problems are related to the change in vegetation and land-use patterns. In addition, a dam was built to store water for a rice irrigation project in 1979 in Northern Cameroon. This dam prevents the normal flooding of the dry season grazing land for wildlife within and around the two major National Parks of the region and has led to a change in vegetation composition and structure. The habitat of an increased elephant population was reduced, along with a change in their migration patterns and their home range. This resulted in an adaptation of their feeding habits and competition for space with humans. The largest elephant population of the African Sahelo-Soudanian region has profoundly affected the vegetation of the Northern Cameroon during the past 20 years. From the various works carried out in the region it appears that the amount of seriously browsed trees increased as well as the damage inflicted on the youngest trees. Although discussion on how to deal with elephant impact on vegetation and the risk of irreversible habitat change is being overshadowed in some areas by its impact on human population, the problem remains a key issue and must be faced if sustained environmental management at the turn of the millennium is to be addressed. Degradation may occur when productivity of these unstable communities has crossed a critical threshold that prevents its resiliency over a long term. Knowledge of the dynamics of this Sahelian vegetation does not permit to critically address the issue now in this fragile environment.