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The rain forests of West Africa have been designated as one of the world's hotspots of biodiversity. They extend from Ghana to Senegal and are referred to as the Upper Guinean forests. Because of their isolated position, they harbour a large number of rare and endemic animal and plant species.Biodiversity of West African Forests focuses on the biodiversity and ecology of these forests. It analyses the factors that give rise to biodiversity and structure tropical plant communities. It also includes an atlas with ecological profiles of rare plant species and large timber species.
West African forests: Introduction
L Poorter, F Bongers and R H M J Lemmens
Forest cover changes in Côte d’Ivoire and Upper Guinea
C Chatelain, H Dao, L Gautier and R Spichiger
The forest-savannah transition in West Africa
L Gautier and R Spichiger
The forests of Upper Guinea: Gradients in large species composition
F Bongers, L Poorter and W D Hawthorne
Floristic diversity of closed forests in Côte d’Ivoire
F N Kouamé, K E Kouadio, K Kouassi and L Poorter
Biodiversity hotspots in West Africa; patterns and causes
J J Wieringa and L Poorter
What explains the distribution of rare and endemic West African plants?
M Holmgren, L Poorter and A Siepel
Implications for conservation and management
F Bongers, L Poorter, V Beligné, W D Hawthorne, F N Kouamé, M P E Parren and D Traoré
Ecological profiles of rare and endemic species
M Holmgren, L Porer, A Siepel, F Bongers, M Buitelaar, C Chatelain, L Gautier, W D Hawthorne, T Helmink, C Jongking, H J Os Breijer, J J Wieringa and R van Zoest
Ecological profiles of large timber species
A Siepel, L Poorter and W D Hawthorne
Checklist of Upper Guinea forest species
C C H Jongking and J J Wieringa
Appendices
"This book will advance the cause of forest conservation in West Africa and encourage a new generation of ecologists to fill the gaps in our knowledge."
- D.M. Newbury, Forest Ecology and Management, 196, 2004
"This elegantly produced and copiously illustrated atlas contains immensely useful information on the biodiversity of an ecologiccal important region. It should prove valuable to researchers and resource managers alike, and even laymen looking for a biodiversity scenario."
- K.P. Singh, Tropical Ecology, 45(2), 2004
"This book presents valuable information concisely yet thoroughly. This excellent ecological atlas for the region will appeal to researchers working in forestry, biodiversity, plant ecology and conservation."
- Unasylva, 218 (55), 2004
"This is a really excellent compilation. I would have loved to have a copy of this at my side during the years that I have worked in the forests and savannahs of West Africa."
- Jeffrey Sayer, International Forestry Review, 6(2), 2004
"This book brings together results that were previously published in more obscure publications or in lanuages other than English."
- B.D. Orr, Choice, 42(3), 2004
