Scientific publications
CHRISTIAN DJIMARABEYE
ATHINA ARELA MADELEINE MENYE
Cameroon Journal of Biological and Biochemical Sciences
The construction of large hydroelectric infrastructure often leads to significant soil degradation, particularly through the disposal of inert waste. At the Nachtigal Dam construction site in Cameroon, two concrete waste disposal sites in zones A and B were identified for ecological rehabilitation. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a three-layered soil remediation technique on the growth of 1,046 plants, selected based on both a survey conducted at the local community on products most commonly used and on an ecological assessment of the surrounding area, across a total area of 24,657.72 m², i.e. 8924.72m2 in zone A and 15733m2 in zone B. A mixed planting strategy incorporating 40% species producing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and 60% woody species has been implemented to promote ecological functionality and socio-economic benefits. Post-planting monitoring through observation and counting revealed an overall survival of approximately 85%, despite localized erosion and varying survival rates within and between species. Thus, the rehabilitated areas exhibit strong regeneration potential, indicating that engineered soil profiles combined with structured planting of mixed species can effectively restore degraded concrete waste areas. This study sheds light on assisted regeneration practices relevant to large infrastructure projects in tropical forest regions. Keywords: Assisted reforestation, conservation, inert waste, rehabilitation, soil types.
