DYNAFAC
DYNAFAC

The DYNAFAC collective's research activities are mainly aimed at understanding the impact of logging on the functioning of exploited tree populations and stands in Central Africa in order to ensure a more sustainable management of its dense rainforests.

In fact, the sustainable management of natural forests, incorporated in management plans, has become a core principle influencing forest policies in Central African countries.

However, ensuring the sustainability of forest management over the long term necessarily entails a better understanding of the functioning of the forest ecosystem in question.

Therefore, the DYNAFAC collective's research efforts are focused on a better understanding of biological diversity, interactions between living organisms, relationships between organisms and their habitats, but also of the relationships between these forests and the surrounding human populations.

  • In terms of dynamics, the studies aim to characterise and quantify tree growth, mortality, recruitment (number of young trees exceeding a threshold diameter) and population structure, etc. These studies are particularly useful for refining the parameters of forest management.
  • On a biological level, the studies focus on the mechanisms which influence tree reproduction and regeneration: phenology (rhythm, initiation and intensity of flowering, fruiting, causes of these rhythms, etc.), pollination, seed dispersal. The studies also focus on evolutionary mechanisms that support species diversification, the depletion of certain traits in unexploited populations (through genetic skimming), the genetic diversity of more or less exploited populations, its impact on reproductive success, etc.
  • At the ecological and environmental level, the studies focus on the influence of intra- and interspecific competition, climatic and soil factors on tree population dynamics.
  • At the social level, DYNAFAC aims to contribute to the integration of the needs of local populations into regional forest management standards. A better understanding of the availability, human needs, and consumption of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) would help to ensure the sustainability of local populations’ traditional use of these forest resources.

The diversity of the DYNAFAC collective, which is made up of an international structure – national administrations – associations, research organisations and institutes and the private sector, is a vital asset to reach its goals.

 

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