Ecological study of the vegetation of the Douala Edea wildlife reserve in Cameroon

The Douala-Edea Wildlife reserve is situated in the Littoral region, specifically in the Sanaga Maritime Department. The study aims to characterize the plant diversity of the reserve. This study was conducted in three phases, the rapid botanic survey, a botanical inventory of the reserve; and species identification in the herabarium. The methodology used combined the quadrants to achieve the botanical inventories, as well as surveys and field visits. The forest of the Douala-Edea reserve is rich and diverse, 435 species and 76 families were identified. This potential varies with facies. Four facies were identified, the coastal facies, the disturbed forest, the undisturbed environment and marshy environment. The coastal facies with the least species abundance is dominated by Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. Diversity is average and plant regeneration in the under “canopy” is dominated by 47.3 % of plants with a diameter less than or equal to 10 cm. The average recovery is 82 m2 / ha, Confirming that the forest reserve is a mature forest.