Etude comparative des modifications de la flore et de la végétation ligneuses dans les forêts classées de Koutal et de l'île Kouyong (Centre-Ouest du Sénégal)

The present study compare flora and vegetation of two study sites located nearby each other and characterised by similar biophysical conditions and the same legislation with regard to utilisation. One of the sites, the island of Kouyong, seemingly represents a piece of the original climax forest which has remained almost untouched by man due to religious beliefs in the area. The second site, the forest of Koutal on the mainland, is however strongly influenced by the intervention of man. The woody vegetation of the Kouyong Island is much more dense and diverse than that of Koutal. The degradation of the forest at Koutal is explained by human impact, i.e. exploitation of charcoal, fuel wood, and pasture, along with anthropogenic fire.