Yam Cultivation as an Obstacle to Forest Recolonisation in the Subprefecture of Dimbokro

Abstract

As the first cocoa loop, the Dimbokro region was an area of heavy logging. After the collapse of this first cocoa loop around 1980, the population of the Dimbokro subprefecture invested in yam cultivation. However, it has been observed that despite the cessation of intensive cocoa and coffee production in favour of yam cultivation, the forest that had disappeared has still not been able to recover. It is therefore necessary to know what is causing this situation. The study aims to show the causes of the difficult forest recolonisation in the subprefecture of Dimbokro. Through field investigations, the use of various documents consulted, the contribution of remote sensing and the analysis of statistical data, the negative impact of yam cultivation on the forest of the Dimbokro sub-prefecture, which is unable to recover, has been demonstrated. The importance of yam cultivation for the population of Dimbokro and the harmful effects of the cultivation system used by local farmers are explanatory factors. Thus, forest recolonisation remains difficult, if not impossible.