Abstract

The study was conducted between 2006 and 2007 at Agulli forest reserve in Northwest Province of Cameroon to evaluate its floral composition through forest edge and interior analysis. Using a sampling intensity of 2.2%, two sample plots of 1 ha each were demarcated in the forest which has a total land area of 89.24 ha. One plot was located at the left exterior edge, while the other plot was located in the interior of the forest. Each of the plots was subdivided into 20 plots (size, 20x25 m). In each of the subplots, all trees that were 10 cm dbh and above were identified and their dbh measured. Thereafter, parameters such as minimum area, species diversity/dominance index, importance value index and regeneration potential were assessed at the edge and interior of the forest. The minimum area at the interior of the forest was 700 m2, while the forest edge has no minimum area which can be taken to represent the community. The species dominance index was 0.18 at the edge of the forest and 0.78 at the interior of the forest. The edge of the forest had 20 families, with the family Euphobiaceae having the highest importance value of 64.9, while 14 families were identified in the interior of the forest, with the family Binoniaceae having the highest importance value of 101.5. Although, the forest edge and interior showed compositional differences in respect of the parameters investigated, however these differences were not significant (p>0.05).