Background: In Africa, Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a species of high cultural, ecological, and socio-economical importance. This led to its over-exploitation, increasing in situ rarity of this species. As a consequence, a conservation alert is increasingly reported across the continent due to the risk of extinction of this multipurpose plant. Unfortunately, indicators of regeneration and conservation guidelines for this species have not been developed yet. The objective of the study was to evaluate the habitat, population structure, and dendrometric characteristics of the plant which are indicators of sustainable conservation. Methodology: A floristic inventory, as well as the vegetation transect method, was used in the villages Def, Karna Manga, and Karna Petel located in Adamawa, Cameroon. The analysis of variance was used to compare dendrometric characteristics across villages. Results: A total of 109 individuals of the plant were counted with a density of 4 individuals per hectare. No plant individuals regenerated in human-controlled habitats (bush fields and home gardens). Three species (Bombax costatum, Piliostigma thonningii, and Terminalia macroptera) were the most frequent accompanying species, as well as the Caesalpiniaceae family. Dendrometric characteristics showed a statistically significant difference (p 0.05) among sites. Regardless of the variable studied, the structure of the D. microcarpum population was unstable and its in situ conservation was more successful in Karna Manga. Conclusion: Conservation indicators (habitat, population structure and dendrometric characteristics: crown diameter, diameter at breast height, the height of first large living branch, and tree height) revealed that in situ conservation of D. microcarpum population was not sufficient to maintain this species in the study area. For sustainable conservation, less expensive and plant-specific ex situ domestication techniques are recommended to maintain species persistence in the studied region.
