Assessing the influence of touristification’s infrastructural element on the phytosociological structure of a protected tropical ecosystem in Benin Republic

The study determined the impact of infrastructural development on the woody vegetation structure in the ecotourism hotspots of Pendjari National Park (PNP), Benin Republic. Plot method and control/impact approach employed in the woody vegetation assessment for tree growth measurement and biodiversity indices' computation. Forty-two different species were observed in the ecotourism built-up areas. Thirty-two species were observed in the ecotourism control areas. The woody vegetation structure in ecotourism built-up and control areas (EBCA) differed (P ≤ 0.05) as depicted by the phytosociological characteristics, abundance distribution model, and kernel density. However, a few government-owned and managed infrastructural development towards ecotourism affected the vertical strata and connectivity of the forest canopy cover in the Bali pond and Pendjari hotel. Therefore, staff training and capacity development on ecotourism hotspots' placement, design and maintenance are recommended. Also, further studies on the impact of ecotourism infrastructural development on other ecological resources are imperative.

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