The Congo has developed an industrial programme of plantation which cover today more than 40.000 hectares of artificial forests. The stands are established on sandy, poor and acid soils, widespread in the coastal area.
A sensitive improvement of soil under plantations has been observed in the 10 years old stands. However, in the 15 or 20 years old seedling stands, a natural regeneration of species planted like Eucalyptus, Acacia and Caribbean pines is abundant. The majority of the parcels are found associate with a spontaneous vegetation constituted by species coming from native forests or forest galleries. The colonized stands take then an aspect of true composite forests.
Therefrom, regarding the Congo, Eucalyptus intensive forest plantations seem to create favourable conditions for the establishment of natural forest where no previous forests exist. Thus, those forests can be considered as one of the means of the ecological improvement and protection of the environment.
Key words: sandy savannah, plantations, natural regeneration, spontaneous vegetation, effect, Eucalyptus.
Correspondence: Lubin Koubaka, C.N.R.F., B.P. 764, Pointe-Noire, Congo
Telefax: +242-944054