TITLE:
Timber Exploitation and Mangrove Ecosystem Dynamics in the Tristao Islands Marine Protected Area, a Ramsar Site in the Republic of Guinea
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Youssouf Fofana, Nounténin Sidimé, Kandè Bangoura, Adama Moussa Sakho
KEYWORDS:
Mangrove, Tristão Islands, Ramsar Site, Timber Harvesting, Woody Biomass, Salt Production, Fish Smoking, Rice Cultivation, Degradation, Guinea
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.10,
October
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Mangroves are essential coastal ecosystems for maintaining biodiversity, protecting the coastline, supporting local livelihoods, and storing carbon. This study aims to analyze the effects of timber harvesting on mangroves, identify the main human activities responsible for their degradation, and estimate the quantities of timber biomass harvested by local communities. The methodology is based on a literature review, direct field observations, and semi-structured interviews with forty (40) stakeholders distributed across four activity groups. The main activities studied are rice cultivation, salt production using natural gas, fish smoking, and logging. The qualitative impact assessment was carried out using a matrix inspired by Leopold’s method. The volumes of wood transported by boats were estimated using the Newton-Simpson method, while consumption related to salt production and fish smoking was estimated based on the quantities of wood used per operation and the frequency of activities. The results show that logging constitutes the main direct pressure on the mangrove, with a very strong impact on the mangrove forest. The perception of the local population confirms this hierarchy: 90% of respondents identified logging as a major factor in degradation. The harvesting primarily concerns species of the genus Rhizophora. Estimates of landings reveal a monthly volume of 1,902.384 m3 of mangrove timber at the two main landing sites studied. These results highlight a strong socioeconomic dependence of the local population on mangrove timber resources and an anthropogenic pressure likely to compromise natural regeneration, stand structure, wildlife habitats, and the ecological functions of the ecosystem. The study therefore recommends strengthening community-based monitoring and management of the mangroves, promoting alternative energy sources for salt production and fish smoking, restoring degraded areas, and regularly monitoring timber harvesting. These measures would help reconcile the livelihoods of local communities with the sustainable conservation of the Tristão Islands mangroves.