Cylicodiscus gabunensis Harms: a popular species in international trade. A review

Introduction. Due to the decline in tropical timber resources, silvicultural and ecological knowledge in these taxa need to be improved for management decision-making. Cylicodiscus gabunensis Harms (Fabaceae-Cacsalpinioideac) is a timber tree species with a high socio-economic value. The present paper provides a species-specific literature review and highlights research areas for future investigations. Literature. Known as okan, C. gabunensis inhabits evergreen and semi-deciduous tropical rain forests. Considered as a sacred tree by indigenous peoples, it is a multipurpose timber tree species. The phonology of this species is regular and its seeds are dispersed by wind. Nowadays, most C. gabunensis populations found in evergreen forests exhibit a clear lack of regeneration, which may threaten its long-term logging. The lack of other relevant silvicultural and ecological information for forest managers may increase that risk of unsustainable exploitation. Conclusions. This review summarizes the information available on C. gabunensis in the fields of botany, wood anatomy, ecology and ethnobotany. It provides valuable information for forest managers and decision-makers while considering exploitation intensities and tree population characteristics. Highlighting this information is the first step to (i) deciding on a conservation status for the species, and (ii) proposing appropriate management strategies.