Two of our EORC staff members (Dr. Michael Thiel, Dr. Insa Otte) had the opportunity to visit the Lamto Research Station, located in the forest–savanna transition zone of central Côte d’Ivoire. Established in the 1960s, Lamto is one of West Africa’s most prominent ecological research sites, known for its long-term studies on savanna dynamics, fire ecology, and biodiversity.
The station’s landscape—a mosaic of grasslands, gallery forests, and transitional vegetation—offers a unique natural laboratory. Ongoing experiments, such as controlled burning plots, provide valuable insights into the ecological impacts of fire regimes on soil properties, vegetation structure, and species composition.
Conversations with researchers highlighted the significance of Lamto’s multi-decade data series in understanding ecosystem resilience under climate change. The site also plays a key role in regional capacity-building and environmental monitoring. We also got accompanied by our former PhD student Dr. Mike Abell Kouakou, who guided our team members and introduced them into the unique ecosystem.
In short, Lamto exemplifies the value of sustained ecological research in one of West Africa’s most ecologically complex zones.
