Ecological and structural characterisation of degradation states of Burkina Faso eastern agrosystems

Vegetation relevés following a land degradation gradient Randoming stratified sampling based on land use types and states of degradation are applied. Surveys are conducted following four land use types which are (i) Pama Faunal Reserve (PFR); (ii) Community forest called ZOVIC; (iii) fallows (FALL) and (iv) grazings (GZLD). At each site, vegetation data were carried out in 2012 and 2013 campaigns. Silvicultural survey concern 377 records of 50 m x 20 m for the woody stratum, each associated with a sub-plot of 10 m × 10 m for herbaceous inventory and two sub-plots of 5 m × 5 m for regeneration plants (dbh < 5 cm). The parameters mesuredare tree diameter breast height (dbh ≥ 5 cm), tree height, the density of trees and regeneration, determined by the number of trees (dbh ≥ 5 cm) or regeneration (dbh ˂ 5 cm) stems per hectare and basal area. Phytosociogical data are collected on 72 plots selected among 377 silvicultural previous plots. Parameters recoded concern the recovery of woody stratum, bush stratum and herbaceous layer, a list of all plant species (woody an herb) and abundance-dominance coefficients of these species. Braun-Blanquet (1932) abundance-dominance scale was used.