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

Within the shifting cultivation areas the vegetation is a mosaic of actual fields, thickets of the
Macaranga - Chromolaena community CV) on recently abandoned fields, young secondary
forest of the Xylopia - Musanga community (IV), and patches of lowland forest of the Diospyros
- Polyalthia community (IIc).
7.3.13 Dpd: dissected erosional plains below 350 m asl; moderately well drained soils
The dissected erosional plains plains are found found in the the northwest of of the TCP area. The The low relief relief
intensity and low altitude (40 to to 200 m asl) are a characteristic characteristic features of the landscape. These
units cover a surface area of 11,260 ha and an estimated 10-15% of them are valley bottoms.
The soils are an association of Ebimimbang and Valley Bottom soils.
No significant stretch of natural forest is found within these units which are the core of the
shifting cultivation area of the TCP area. These units have at least three times been logged for
commercial timber. The units have been identified as high intensity shifting cultivation areas
and the vegetation is a mosaic of actual fields, recently abandoned fields with the Macaranga -
Chromolaena community (V), (V), young young secondary forest (Xylopia - Musanga community (IV» and
obviously disturbed lowland lowland forest (Diospyros - Polyalthia community (IIc».
7.3.14 Ev: valley bottom; poorly poorly to very poorly drained soils
Valley bottoms occur throughout the TCP area. The majority however is too small to be mapped
individually at reconnaissance scale and appears as inclusions in other mapping units. Some
large valley bottom areas, however, do exist throughout of the TCP research area. The total
surface of these units is only 1,600 ha.
Because of the high ground water table and water stagnation, the vegetation structure and
composition are very distinct. The soils are typically poorly to very poorly drained, are shallow
to moderately deep and stratified, i.e. alternation of sand and clay. The swamp forest is
characterized by the Carapa - Mitragyna (Ill) community. The Ev units appear not to be
affected by by human activity.
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