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Endangered West African Plants

Endangered plants in Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea and other West African countries are at risk mainly due to logging activities, clearing the land for agricultural uses, petroleum exploitation and civil war. The hardest hit areas of West Africa are the rainforests and mangrove forests. The importance of these plants cannot be underestimated. A plant is considered endangered when it is at risk for extinction in its natural habitat.

  1. Endangered Rainforest Trees

    • The hardwood trees of the rainforests are harvested for use in flooring, furniture and boats, for joinery and for international trade. Some of the rainforest trees on the endangered list include Berlinia hollandii, Cassia fikifiki, Chrysophyllum azaguieanum, Cola boxiana and Diospyros crassiflora.

      Diospyros crassiflora is native to lowland rainforests in Nigeria and other African countries. Its dark wood is almost black and harvested for furniture, tools and international trade. It is also known as African ebony, African persimmon, Benin ebony or simply ebony. Very few mature trees are left. Tieghemella heckelii is an evergreen native to wet rainforest in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia and other African countries. The species has the possibility of becoming extinct in Ghana and Liberia due to overharvesting. It is also known as cherry mahogany and baku.

    Endangered Shrubs and Plants

    • Endangered shrubs and plants can usually be found in the rainforest understory and on the forest floor. Many of them are climbers that rely on the trees for support. The shrubs generally reach a height of 12 feet or less. The endangered list includes Dorstenia astyanactis, Floscopa mannii, Mondia whitei, Acacia erythrocalix, Cola attiensis, Cola philipi-jonesii and Polystachya cooperi.

      Dorstenia astyanactis is a climber that starts out as an air plant on the trunks and branches of a tree and sends its roots down to the forest floor. Native to Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon, it is endangered due to forest clearing for agriculture. Polystachya cooperi is a plant from the orchid family. It is very rare and native to Eastern Nigeria and Cameroon. It is endangered due to extensive felling of forests at high altitudes.

    Mangroves

    • The mangrove forests provide safe habitat for at least 10 species of wading birds, crabs, lobsters and fish as well as antelope, crocodile and the endangered manatee. They are found along the West African coast, providing crucial protection from erosion for the coastline. A valuable local resource, they are most at risk from the commercial salt industry and clearing for agricultural purposes as well as climatic changes.

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