Ecosystem
Kigwena Mesophilic Periguinea Forest
This forest is located about twenty km south of Rumonge. It is a peri-Guinean mesophilic forest dense with Newtonia buchananii and Albizia zygia. The forest occupied nearly 2,000 ha 39 years ago. It is now reduced to 500 ha. It is a very dense forest that is almost impenetrable. The upper tree-like stratum reaches 30 m in height. It is composed of large spreading tops of Albizia zygia, Newtonia buchananii and Pycnanthus angolensis. These large trees mean that this forest is linked to the formation of the Congolese basin. The lower tree-like stratum is very important and reaches about ten meters in height. It consists of numerous and varied taxa such as Pseudospondias microcarpa, Maesopsis eminii, Sterculia tragacantha, Spathodea campanulata.
A shrub layer is distinct with Dracaena steudneri, Dracaena natens, Ouratea densiflora, Leea guineensis, and many other secondary forest species: Macaranga spinosa, Hugonia platysepala, Glyphaea brevis, Myrianthus arboreus. The herbaceous stratum is composed of grasses such as Oplismensus hirtellus, Olyra latifolia and ferns. Lianas, Culcasia scandens, Eremospatha sp. often reach the top of the lower tree stratum.