Assessment of Woody Plants Species and Ground Cover Status of Mandara Hills as Major Determinants of Wildlife Conservation

Abstract

The study assessed the woody plants species and ground cover status of Mandara hills to seek necessary information for its sustenance. Information on woody plants resources and ground cover will help in the design of management strategies for wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation. The investigation involved the identification and inventory of woody plant species, assessment of crown area and the ground cover of the Mandara hills. Woody plants’ species status was presented using species richness, frequency, species richness index and Simpson’s diversity index. Girth and height classes, ground cover and crown area were presented using percentages. 40 species of woody plants belonging to 21 families were inventoried. The species richness was highest in Kwalkuga (24) while the lowest was in Kuthu with 18. Among the woody plant’s species identified; Acacia kirkii (224) had the highest frequency, followed by Anogeissus leiocarpus (211). The highest diversity index was recorded in Kwalkuga (0.09) while Fafuma and Makwan with 0.02 each were the lowest. The majority of the trees and shrubs were recorded in the girth classes of 1.0-1.99 and 2.0-2.99 and that of height in 1.1-3.0, 3.1-5.0 and 5.1-7.0 respectively. Results of crown area showed highest value in Kwalkuga (20.92%) and Fafuma had the highest ground cover of grass (34.02%). This study recommends establishment of buffer zones where partial human activity can take place and the improvement of the livelihood of the residents to reduce human pressure on the resources of the hills.