Abstract
The general perception is that forest resources exploitation can cause the degradation and loss of resources and biodiversity, promoted by landscape fragmentation and pressure over habitats. But such assumption might not be adjusted to situations where long term exploitation by traditional communities is based on management strategies adapted to recovery, adjusting pressure to kept resources available. In this work, we assess the recovery of the Mopane woodlands considering different land use practices and stand development stages on areas explored by local communities. In detail, we want to explore: i) changes on stem size across plant comunities dominated by Mopane (Kirk ex Benth ex J. Leonard); ii) relationships between the variation in stem size across communities and the associated land use practices and vegetation stand development stage. To answer those questions, an inventory was carried out to collect data from 50 temporary circular plots of different sizes spatially nested, covering four stand development stages. Each nested circular plot was composed of a large plot (0.02 ha), an intermediate plot (0.04 ha), and an inner plot (0.01 ha) for counting stems of different DBH. Data was analysed using Excel, Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and CANOCO, and several parametric and non-parametric tests. TWINSPAN analysis, using stem counts, grouped the 1746 stems from 29 species (with Mopane as one species) into 5 communities and 10 sub-communities, based on indicator species and eigenvalues (level of stability). This study was carried out in the Limpopo National Park (LNP), in Mozambique, a conservation area established in 2001 and part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) since 2002. Acording to the results, population structure (size class distribution of trees) of Mopane communities showed variation related to stand development stage, as expected. The initial stages show good regeneration, indicating that recovery is not hampered by the exploitation regime in use, a critical aspect once ecosystem dynamics of Mopane woodland has a deep influence on the way that local communities manage harvesting of Mopane products for different uses, and traditional uses do also have influence on recovery dynamics. So, management of such resource is critical to ensure sustainable resource use and guarantee provision for future generations. For that, a zonation of Mopane woodlands within the Park, considering different land uses, might enhance a quick system recovery on specific areas and contribute to woodland productivity, good quality products and reduce used areas, promoting habitat conservation.
Highlights
The general perception is that natural resources exploitation and changes on land use can cause the degradation and loss of resources and biodiversity, along with fragmentation of the resource base (Burgess et al, 2004; Campbell, 1996; Chichinye, Geldenhuys, & Chirwa 2019; Chidumayo & Gumbo, 2010; Ribeiro, Syampungani, Matakala, Nangoma, & Ribeiro-Barros 2015; Syampungani, Geldenhuys, & Chirwa, 2016)
That is of critical importance for communities of low income that depends on forest resources, such as those depending on seasonal woodlands in Africa, where forest resources contribute to the livelihoods of millions of rural people, which reinforces the need for sustainable resource use management (Kowero, 2011)
The dominant species on the sampled plots was Colophospermum mopane (1477 stems), an expected result considering the dominance of mopane woodlands within the Limpopo National Park (LNP) and the monospecificity of such woodlands
Summary
The general perception is that natural resources exploitation and changes on land use can cause the degradation and loss of resources and biodiversity, along with fragmentation of the resource base (Burgess et al, 2004; Campbell, 1996; Chichinye, Geldenhuys, & Chirwa 2019; Chidumayo & Gumbo, 2010; Ribeiro, Syampungani, Matakala, Nangoma, & Ribeiro-Barros 2015; Syampungani, Geldenhuys, & Chirwa, 2016). The population status of individual species and floristic-structural composition of the tree system are affected by the natural and anthropogenic disturbance-recovery processes operating in the system, promoting temporary or permanent changes in species composition, stand structure, and biomass through different uses such as logging, hunting, and opening of agricultural areas using fire (Chazdon, 2016). Woodland areas in recovery over a period of 15 years showed the best recovery of plant diversity, productivity and resource use value after charcoal production and traditional slash-and-burn agriculture, when compared to single-tree timber harvesting and protection (Chichinye et al, 2019; Syamopungani et al, 2016)
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