[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 FOREST LAND INVENTORY AND LAND EVALUATION PROJECT (LUl)
The Tropenbos Cameroon Programme (TCP) coordinates fourteen interrelated projects in the
fields of ecology, forestry, economy, social sciences, agronomy and soil science. This report
presents the results of the reconnaissance scale land inventory carried out in the first phase of
the research project Lu1, titled 'Forest Land Inventory and Land Evaluation'.
1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Detailed and up-to-date information on the abiotic and biotic environment of the TCP research
area is a prerequisite for the formulation of a management plan. This information, however, is
either non-existent (e.g. hydrology and erosion aspects) or not detailed enough for the present
needs (e.g. climate, landforms, soils, land use, vegetation, and wildlife). The Lu1 Lu 1 project is
aimed at filling those gaps, which is essential for sound land use planning.
The general objective of Lu1 is to provide a scientific framework for sustainable land use
planning for the TCP research area. This will be realized through the development of a land
evaluation methodology for tropical moist forests. Moreover, the Lul project provides a basis
for all ecologically oriented research activities within the TCP and permits the extrapolation of
the results of TCP research to other areas in South Cameroon.
The first phase of the Lul project entails an integrated reconnaissance scale (1: 100,000) survey
on landforms, soils and vegetation. The present report is the result of this integrated survey,
delimitating and describing the major landscape ecological units of the TCP area. In the second
phase of the Lu1 project a qualitative ecological land evaluation will be conducted, investigating
the suitability of each of the landscape ecological units for a number of relevant land-uses.
1.3 COURSE OF THE STUDY
Preliminary work on the interpretation of aerial photographs, including a five-week mission to
the study area, was carried out by Mr. Luc Touber of the DLO- Winand Staring Centre for
Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research (SC-DLO) (Touber, 1993a; 1993b).
The Directorate General for International Cooperation of The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (DGIS) contracted two associate experts for the Lul project. Mr. G.W. Hazeu, soil
scientist, started his work in Cameroon Cameroon in in March 1995. 1995. His contract expired in September 1997.
In March 1995, DGIS appointed appointed Mr. Barend S. van Gemerden as vegetation surveyor whose
contract expired in December 1997.
The fieldwork for the landform, soil and vegetation survey was carried out between March 1995
and May 1996. Ms. A. Stoffels carried out the field survey of the northern part in the period
April-October 1997.
Overall supervision of the Lu 1 project was provided by senior soil and vegetation experts of SC­
DLO. Additional assistance was given by a senior GIS expert of the same institute. A total of
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