How important are forest elephants to the survival of woody plant species in Upper Guinean forests?

Elephant populations have declined greatly in the rain forests of Upper Gui nea (Africa, west of the Dahomey Gap). Elephants have a number of well-know n influences on vegetation, both detrimental and beneficial to trees. They are dispersers of a large number of woody forest species, giving rise to co ncerns that without elephants the plant diversity of Upper Guinean forest p lant communities will not be maintained. This prospect was examined with re spect to four sources of inventory and research data from Ghana, covering n early all (more than 2000) species of forest plant. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that plant populations are collapsing without elephants is cons picuously absent in these datasets, although Balanites wilsoniana is likely to suffer dramatically on a centennial scale in the absence of forest elep hants. A few other species are likely to decline, although at an even slowe r rate. In the context of other processes current in these forests, loss of elephants is an insignificant concern for plant biodiversity. Elephant dam age of forests can be very significant in Africa, but loss of this influenc e is more than compensated for by human disturbance. Elephants have played a significant part in the shaping of West African rain forest vegetation. H owever, it is the conservation of elephants that should be of primary conce rn. Tree populations should be managed to promote them, rather than vice ve rsa.