Impacts of selective logging on above-ground forest biomass in the Monts de Cristal in Gabon

Selective logging is an important socio-economic activity in the Congo Basin but one with associated environmental costs, some of which are avoidable through the use of reduced-impact logging (RIL) practices. With increased global concerns about biodiversity losses and emissions of carbon from forest in the region, more information is needed about the effects of logging on forest structure, composition, and carbon balance. We assessed the consequences of low-intensity RIL on above-ground biomass and tree species richness in a 50 ha area in northwestern Gabon. We assessed logging impacts principally in 10 randomly located 1-ha plots in which all trees ⩾10 cm dbh were measured, identified to species, marked, and tagged prior to harvesting. After logging, damage to these trees was recorded as being due to felling or skidding (i.e., log yarding) and skid trails were mapped in the entire 50-ha study area. Allometric equations based on tree diameter and wood density were used to transform tree diameter into biomass.Logging was light with only 0.82 trees (8.11 m3) per hectare extracted. For each tree felled, an average of 11 trees ⩾10 cm dbh suffered crown, bole, or root damage. Skid trails covered 2.8% of the soil surface and skidding logs to the roadside caused damage to an average of 15.6 trees ⩾10 cm dbh per hectare. No effect of logging was observed on tree species richness and pre-logging above-ground forest biomass (420.4 Mg ha−1) declined by only 8.1% (34.2 Mg ha−1). We conclude from these data that with harvest planning, worker training in RIL techniques, and low logging intensities, substantial carbon stocks and tree species richness were retained in this selectively logged forest in Gabon.

► We investigated logging impacts on tree species richness and aboveground biomass.
► We assessed damage due to felling and skidding using reduced-impact logging system.
► We found no effect of logging on tree richness and forest biomass declined by 8.1%.
► Felling caused damage to trees whereas skidding uprooted and damaged roots of trees.
► Forest carbon stocks and tree species richness were retained with the use of RIL.