Considering the rapid changes in species diversity, which have been observed in the West African savanna zone, research on the dynamics of phytodiversity is of crucial importance. The main objective of the interdisciplinary subproject W11 is to analyze and evaluate current species diversity and its changes under different utilization conditions along a climatic gradient. Parallel to that the importance of diversity changes and the consequences for the local communities are investigated. By using an interdisciplinary approach with botany, remote sensing, pedomorphology, ethnology and sociology we aim at producing a better scientific foundation for the development of sustainable resource management, conservation measures as well as for predictions of future developments in West Africa's phytodiversity.

Besides continuing the collection of basic data, monitoring and evaluation of spatial and temporal vegetation dynamics (work package 1, 2, 4, 5, 9) the main emphasis will be laid in the second project phase on a stronger consideration of pedomorphological (work package 3) and socio-economic aspects (work package 6) and the conversion of the results into practical measures for maintaining phytodiversity (e.g.work package 7: Restoration of degraded sites, work package 8: Resources protection measures: local botanical gardens).