Plant inventory of W Biosphere reserve (North-Benin). Data mobilized in the framework of JRS Biodiversity Foundation project

Vegetation relevés were performed along a land use gradient (park – buffer zone – communal lands) at W Biosphere Reserve in Benin republic. Relevés were carried out using Braun-Blanquet Phytosociological approach from mi-September to mi-November of the year 2008 and 2009 corresponding to the period where the maximum plant species is in flower. Aster satellite images from 2007 were used to identify the main types of vegetation in which vegetation plots were installed. We set up a total of 121 stratified random plots. Trees and shrubs sampling was carried out in 30 m x 30 m plots while herbaceous layer composition were surveyed in subplots of 10 m x 10 m. These data were collected in the frame of our PhD study. From this study, a total of 5626 occurrences were recorded.