Kossi Adjonou

Impact of Charcoal Production on Biodiversity in Togo (West Africa)

In Togo, firewood and charcoal contribute more than 80% to the total domestic energy requirements (Kokou et al., 2009). This traditional energy represents about an annual average consumption of 419,964 tons per year on national level (Fontodji, 2007). This incessant growing request for traditional energy is ensured by national production. Unfortunately, this important consumption of charcoal had enormous consequences on the ecosystems since the methods used by the producers and the consumption modes of charcoal by households still remain archaic. Indeed, the production yield is about 15 to 20% i.e. 150 to 200 kg of wood produced per ton of woody material (Girard, 2002) and during the cooking with charcoal, the loss in energy is about 8 to 13% (Thiam, 1991). This situation is an important waste of wood causing the felling of a great number of trees. Moreover, the producers claim that the charcoal is of good quality when part of the wood used is fresh. Therefore, the excessive exploitation of the forestry resources for energy purposes puts an important pressure on the ecosystems and leads consequently to serious harmful effects on the environment and the biodiversity preservation. The objectives of this article are: (1) to analyze the impact of charcoal production on the natural ecosystems; (2) to assess the pressure on the key plant species as well as (3) on the soil physico-chemical properties soil and fauna diversity inside the kilns; (4) to assess how national environment policies and laws regulate charcoal production activities.

Environmental and wood biophysical variabilities in teak plantations in Togo (West Africa).

Abstract This survey addresses the influences of ecological factors on wood biophysical properties of teak wood in plantation in Togo. On national scale, these plantations are discriminated in six ecological groups using a correspondence factor analysis. The same analysis applied to the wood biophysical properties permits to discriminate Togolese teak in six groups also. Within these six biophysical groups, wood density ranged from 600 to 800 kg/m3. Mesurements of colour permit to classify these plantations in three categories. Natural durability of these plantations varies from highly durable to durable. At Tchorogo forest site scale, a survey using synusial approach to phytosociology permitted to describe three phytocoenoses with different productivity index which are Icacina senegalensis phytocoenose, Ressantia indica phytocoenose and Daniellia oliveri phytocoenose.

Useful near infrared spectroscopy model calibrations on solid wood samples of Pterocarpus erinaceus (Poir.) for physical, mechanical and colour properties

Pterocarpus erinaceus (Poir.) (local name: Toti, Tem) is a species endemic to the Guinea-Sudan and Sudan-Sahel zones. It is over-exploited for its wood, which is sold in international trade to China and Indian markets. The selection of high performance wood based on wood properties and their vegetative reproduction represents the best option for the establishment of plantations with the aim of promoting the restoration of degraded natural resources. However, measurements of these characters are lengthy, time consuming and destructive, and difficult to perform in Togo because of the lack of equipment. An alternative to those methods is near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency and feasibility of near infrared spectroscopy for predicting the physical and mechanical properties and the colour parameters of P. erinaceus wood from Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo. The properties were determined by conventional method and correlated with near infrared spectra using partial least square regression. The partial least square regression models were tested by cross-validation and by external validation. The results of this study showed the possible use of near infrared spectroscopy to estimate the physical and mechanical properties and the colour parameters of P. erinaceus wood. In fact, when validating prediction models for radial and tangential shrinkage, the fibre saturation point (FSP) showed R2 values of 0.70, 0.71, and 0.92, respectively, with ratio performance deviation values of 1.84, 1.87 and 3.57. For the colour parameters L*, a* and b*, the R2 values were 0.83, 0.74 and 0.67, respectively, with ratio performance deviation values of 2.40, 2 and 1.70. The results showed that the basic density and fibre saturation point models were classed as good to very good, respectively. Near infrared spectroscopy can therefore be used to predict efficiently the properties of P. erinaceus wood for a large number of samples, enabling the incorporation of those traits in breeding criteria.

Impact of Small-Scale Logging in Semi Deciduous Forest of Togo (West Africa)

Impact of Small-Scale Logging in Semi Deciduous Forest of Togo (West Africa) In Togo, small-sale or artisanal logging is undergoing much processing with the use of mobile saws. This study is conducted to provide an overview of the supply chain of timber in Litime (Southwest Togo) and to show the performance of the local enterprise of timber exploitation. In this regard, felling and cut up of forty logs of seventeen species belonging to nine Angiosperm families were followed up in the forest. The influence of the diameters and the heights of the logs are the parameters observed on diverse forms of the products. Results reveal that many species which were not processed before are actively undergoing today. A relationship was established between the low yield, the diameters and the heights of the logs. Results also show that the rate of wastes is important. Consequently, there is a rapid depletion of forest cover and biodiversity, with a considerable negative impact on the Litime environment.

EVALUATION DES PARAMÈTRES DE CROISSANCE DES ESSENCES FORESTIÈRES LOCALES EN PLANTATION AU TOGO : CAS DE TERMINALIA SUPERBA ENGL. & DIELS ET TERMINALIA IVORENSIS A. CHEV

Introduction: Renal failure underlies various etiologies among which are infectious and autoimmune origins which may link directly or indirectly with blood groups. Objectives: To determine the frequency of blood groups among a sample of patients with renal failure at Royal medical services, and to investigate the association of renal function tests with blood groups. Methodology: A retrospective study design was followed to collect data from files of patients with renal failure. Files of renal patients was included if blood groups were written and kidney function tests were provided. A data sheet was made for each patient that included relevant information about renal patients. A total of 197 files were reviewed. Data were entered into excel sheet to make raw data for all patients. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS V20. Data were presented as frequencies and percentages. The relationships between blood groups and renal function tests were investigated using T-independent test. Significance was considered at alpha level 0.05), except for potassium level which was observed in its maximal level among patients with blood group A, and its minimal levels were observed among patients with blood group AB (p=0.032). Conclusions: The present study showed that renal failure patients exhibited more frequency with blood groups A and O and agreed with other studies in which blood group AB is the least associated blood group with renal failure. The level of potassium was highest in patients with blood group A and lowest in patients with blood group AB and this was statistically significant (p=0.032).

CARACTÉRISTIQUES BIOPHYSIQUES DU BOIS DE PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS (POIR.) EN ZONES GUINÉENNE ET SOUDANIENNE AU TOGO

Pterocarpus erinaceus (Poir.) is a tree species found in the Soudanian and Guinean climatic zones in Togo. It is of high socio-cultural importance because of its many uses, but little is known about the technological properties of its wood. This is why a study was conducted to determine the physical and mechanical properties (density, shrinkage, FSP, MOE, MOR, compression, hardness) of its wood in relation to environmental condi- tions. The results for the wood of 19 trees of about 18 to 60 years of age, growing in two ecological zones (Keran Park in the Sudanian zone and Abdoulaye in the Guinean zone), show that density, infra- density, compressive yield stress and anisotropic shrinkage are all higher in the Keran trees. Regarding shrinkage, FSP, MOE, tensile strength and hardness, no significant differences were found between the two sites. The expected cor- relations were found between density and hardness. The study also shows that the physical and mechanical properties of Pterocarpus erinaceus wood are virtu- ally unaffected by cambium age.