The aim of this work is to evaluate the nutritional value and cyanhydric acid content of eight plant species (Alchornea cordifolia, Alstonia boonei, Cola acuminata, Ficus vallis-choudae, Musanga cecropioïdes, Macaranga spinosa, Pycnanthus angolensis and Trilepisium madagascariensis) currently consumed by Okapia johnstoni in captivity at Epulu Fauna Reserve of Okapi in Democratic Republic of Congo. After two weeks of experimentation, the preference of Okapia johnstoni in consuming these plant species is in decreasing order as follow: Musanga cecropioïdes, Alchornea cordifolia, Alstonia boonei, Ficus vallis-choudae, Pycnanthus angolensis, Trilepisium madagascariensis, Macaranga spinosa and Cola acuminata. The biochemical analyses revealed that A. Boonei and C. acuminata are more rich in crude protein( 19.27% per 100 g of dry mater) and F. vallis-choudae is the richest species in the lipids (11.61%) and the poorest is A. cordifolia; M. cecropioïdes is the richest in calcium (6. 01%) against, P. angolensis which is the poorest (3.0 %); In the all plant species, magnesium is presented under the form of the trace; T. madagascariens and A. Boonei are the richest in cyanhydric acid (1, 60 mg) that P. angolensis (0, 40 mg). These results indicate that the selective choice of certain fodder to the detriment of others is a self medicative behaviour (zoopharmacognosy) in Okapi. Starting from these results, it is thus desirable that research works are carried out for the ex situ conservation of Okapi in the province of “Nord Ubangi”.

Nature conservation had become an international preoccupation due to the global rate of deforestation which goes beyond 12 millions hectares. Until 2012, in the whole Congo bassin, the Democratic Republic of Congo had the high rate of deforestation (0.32%) while its reforestation rate was 0.1±0.3%. In this paper, criterion of classification for forest with high value for consevation are studied so to help decision maker on Uma forest conservation.
Biologic diversity, ecosystems and mosaic at the landscape scale, threatened or rare ecosystems and habitats, critic ecological services, needs for community livelihood and cultural value are those criterion of classification. The results are : the mean of the value of plant diversity of Uma was 33.2 ± 6.5; the mean species richness of Uma is higher than other sites. The hugeness of this forest let that it successes to the second criterion and, the presence of some rare habitats to the third criterion. Uma forest is the source of Tshopo river which is used for fishing and on it is built the hydroelectrical station of Tshopo. This forest has many animal and plant species whose are very used by autochthon. Cultural value of this forest is most due to its inselbergs considered as sacral area. Verification of all these criterion is a great proof that Uma forest can be classified among forests with high value for conservation.