Tropical Africa

Abstract

Rain forest covers at the most 9% of tropical Africa (Bourlière 1973, p. 280). As a consequence, comparatively little attention is paid to the rain forest in general studies of the vegetation of tropical Africa. Two important books, however, focussed attention on the African rain forest (Fig. 11.1), one by Aubréville (Climats, Forêts et Désertification de l’Afrique tropicale, 1949), and the other by Hedberg and Hedberg (Conservation of Vegetation in Africa, South of the Sahara, 1968). In both, the data are arranged by countries. In addition, a small book by Hopkins called Forest and Savanna (1965) provides an outstanding introduction to west Africa, in particular and Volumes 3 and 4 of Introduction à la Phytogéographie des Pays Tropicaux by Schnell (1976–1977) are an indispensable source of compiled data. The Netherlands were the last among the West European countries to start research on the tropical African rain forest — in 1955, at Wageningen, though a number of fine Dutch publications have appeared since then. I should add that the series of papers edited by Meggers in 1973 (Tropical Forest Ecosystems in Africa and South America), are excellent though on the whole are more of a biogeographic than ecological nature. This series includes the fauna which, unlike the flora, is as diversified as anywhere in the tropics.