Natural forest management in Côte d'Ivoire

The reaction of the tropical rain forest to different silvicultural operations—logging and thinning—was studied in three forest reserves in Côte d'Ivoire. Measurement taken over a span of four years made it possible to follow the diameter growth of more than 50 commercially valuable species, providing information hitherto unavailable about the requirements and behaviors of these species. Taking into account the growth, mortality and regeneration of an entire stand, the results clearly indicated the value of silvicultural operations, which frequently resulted in a doubling of production, and also forested the establishment of the most valuable species.